A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Flay family of England.
Reg. 8814 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Erm. on a pale az. three birds ar”
DevonPhysic · Devon, c. 1620
Where the Flay Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Flay arms are recorded
The Flay 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Flay arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
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.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Devon.
Origin & History of the Flay Family in England
The surname Flay is deeply rooted in the rural landscape of Devon, where members of the family were firmly established by the early seventeenth century. Etymologists often link the name to Old English origins, suggesting it may have served as a topographic descriptor for people living near a specific type of clearing or a patch of land used for flax cultivation. By 1620, the family was already integrated into the local parish structures of the West Country, living through a period of significant social and agricultural change in England. As yeoman farmers and tradespeople, these early ancestors helped shape the local economy and community life of Devon. Their presence in the region during this time reflects the common pattern of families remaining tied to their ancestral lands for generations, leaving behind a legacy preserved in local parish registers and early legal documents.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fleg
Old Norse word meaning to frighten or to put to flight.
This name
FlayA nickname for a timid person or someone who easily takes flight.
also spelled
Fley
Fleye
Related arms
Mellerrecorded with Flay, same area
Metcalferecorded with Flay, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Parish Registers of Devon, 1620
Hoskins, W.G., Devon, 1954
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
