A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gorley family of England.
Reg. 7932 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. three mullets gu”
YorkSutton · York, c. 1620
Where the Gorley Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gorley arms are recorded
The Gorley arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Gorley 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 York.
Origin & History of the Gorley Family in England
The family name Gorley has deep roots in the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life in Northern England. Families like the Gorleys often lived near the city walls or within the shadow of the great Minster, where they likely worked as skilled craftspeople or merchants. The name itself is thought to be locational in origin, perhaps derived from an Old English term describing a clearing or a meadow near a gore, which was a triangular piece of land. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of the city, contributing to the social and economic development of the region during a time of significant change in English history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gore-leah
A muddy or triangular piece of land in a forest clearing.
This name
GorleyDerived from a topographical location describing a muddy meadow or a triangular woodland clearing.
also spelled
Gorlie
Gorly
Gorleigh
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Baines, Edward, History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York, 1822
The National Archives, Parish Registers of York, series PR/YOR
York City Archives, Freemen of the City of York, series YCA/F
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mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
