A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Farleigh family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. six chevronels, the first, third, and fifth gu. the second, fourth, and sixth sa”
The Farleigh arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat of arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
Reigning in England when the Farleigh arms are first recorded.
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
The surname Farleigh is a locational name that originated in England, derived from Old English words meaning a clearing or a meadow near a fern-covered area. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Devon, a region characterized by its rugged coastline and deep agricultural valleys. Records confirm that members of the Farleigh family were living in this area by 1620, likely working as farmers or tradespeople who identified themselves by the specific landscape features near their homes. Because surnames were often adopted based on local geography, the name reflects a long-standing connection to the rural life of the West Country. Over generations, the family became deeply rooted in the social fabric of Devon, contributing to the local community through their work and presence in parish life.
Old English words for fern and a woodland clearing or meadow.
