A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Foxley family of England.
Reg. 7413 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a saltire chequy or and sa. betw. four trefoils of the second”
DorsetDorset, c. 1609
Where the Foxley Arms Were Recorded
Dorset
Map of England showing where the Foxley arms are recorded
The Foxley arms were recorded in Dorset, c. 1609.
Dorset was quiet farming and grazing country along the south coast. Its gentry were middling rather than grand, but they held their manors for a very long time, and long holding is what puts a name in the records.
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 Foxley 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 Dorset.
Origin & History of the Foxley Family in England
The surname Foxley is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from Old English words that translate to a clearing or meadow frequented by foxes. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Dorset. Records from 1609 confirm that members of the Foxley family were living and working within this region during the reign of King James I. During this period, families in rural Dorset were often deeply connected to the land, and the name likely served as a way to identify individuals based on the specific woodland or field where their ancestors first settled. Over time, as the family moved and grew, the name remained a steady link to their early roots in the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fox leah
Old English words for a wild canine and a forest clearing.
This name
FoxleyA topographical name referring to a woodland clearing frequented by foxes.
also spelled
Foxlay
Foxlie
Foxly
Related arms
Foxlayvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Hanks, Patrick, Dictionary of American Family Names, 2003
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Dorset History Centre, Quarter Sessions Records, 1609
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
