A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Genny family of England.
Reg. 1456 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Or, a bordure az. charged with eight martlets of the field”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Genny Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Genny arms are recorded
The Genny arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Genny 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 England.
Origin & History of the Genny Family in England
The history of the Genny family name is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Northern England, with documented evidence placing family members in the city of York as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, and families living there were often involved in the city’s bustling merchant guilds or local craft industries. The name itself likely evolved as a variation of regional surnames, potentially derived from early occupational titles or local geographic markers common in the Yorkshire area. As the family established their presence in York, they became part of the social fabric of a city defined by its medieval streets and long-standing civic traditions. By remaining in such a significant urban center, early generations of the Genny family were positioned to participate in the economic shifts that defined England during the transition into the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Guinevere
Derived from the Welsh words for white, fair, and phantom or spirit.
This name
GennyA diminutive form of names like Genevieve or Jennifer, often signifying a fair or white lady.
also spelled
Genei
Jenay
Genny
Genie
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
Collins, Francis, Register of the Freemen of the City of York, 1897
York City Archives, House Books of the City of York
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
