A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Godly family of Ireland.
Reg. 3055 · Irish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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. three unicorns' heads erased sa. horned gu, two and one, and three trefoils slipped vert, one and two”
LeitrimLeitrim, c. 1810
Where the Godly Arms Were Recorded
Leitrim
Map of Ireland showing where the Godly arms are recorded
The Godly arms were recorded in Leitrim, c. 1810.
Leitrim was poor, narrow Irish country of lake and mountain. Its landed families were few, but those who held ground held it for a very long time.
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 Ireland in this period.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1801–1820
Reigning in Ireland when the Godly arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Leitrim.
Origin & History of the Godly Family in Ireland
The surname Godly is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the British Isles, likely originating as a descriptive nickname for a person of pious or virtuous character. By the early nineteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in County Leitrim, Ireland. During this period, Leitrim was a landscape shaped by tenant farming and the complex social structures of rural Irish life. Families with this name were part of the broader migration and settlement patterns that defined the region before the Great Famine. As the Godly family settled into the local community, they became integrated into the agricultural and social fabric of the county. Their presence in Leitrim by 1810 suggests they were part of the established population navigating the economic challenges and cultural shifts of pre-famine Ireland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
God
Old English term for a supreme being or deity.
This name
GodlyRefers to a person of pious, virtuous, or saintly character.
also spelled
Godly
Godlie
Godlee
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Adams, W. F., Ireland and Irish Emigration to the New World from 1815 to the Famine, 1932
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
