Map of England showing where the Greeley arms are recorded
The Greeley 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 Greeley 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 Greeley Family in England
The surname Greeley is rooted in the ancient regions of England, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a location-based identifier. Historical records confirm that members of the Greeley family were established in the city of York by the year 1620. During this period, the family was part of the growing middle class that contributed to the local trade and civic life of Northern England. As the seventeenth century progressed, the family name became more prominent in official parish registers, which tracked births, marriages, and deaths within the community. These early records provide a clear link between the family and the social structure of York, showing that they were settled residents long before many of their descendants eventually migrated to the American colonies.
Greeley Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Greley
Derived from the Old French word for a grey meadow.
This name
GreeleyA locational surname originating from a place in Normandy, France, signifying a grey-colored field.
also spelled
Greily
Grayley
Grely
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
York Minster Archives, Parish Register of St. Michael le Belfrey, York, 1565–1778
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
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
bordureA difference between branches of one family
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
