A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Greenley family of England.
Reg. 6575 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Vert a chev. per pale, erm. and erminois betw. three stags trippant, each per pale as the chev”
HerefordTitley Court · Hereford, c. 1620
Where the Greenley Arms Were Recorded
Hereford
Map of England showing where the Greenley arms are recorded
The Greenley arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1620.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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 Greenley 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Greenley Family in England
The surname Greenley is a topographical name, which means it was originally used to describe the landscape where a family lived. It likely refers to someone who resided near a green meadow or a stretch of open grassy land. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Greenley family were well-established in the county of Hereford in England. During this period, families often took their names from the specific fields or landmarks near their homes to distinguish themselves from others in the same village. As these families moved or grew, the name remained attached to their descendants, eventually becoming a permanent family surname. This transition from a simple description of a person’s home to a formal family name reflects the way many English surnames were formed during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grene leah
Old English words for green and a woodland clearing or meadow.
This name
GreenleyRefers to a person who lived near a green meadow or a grassy woodland clearing.
also spelled
Greenley
Greenlie
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Herefordshire Archives, Parish Registers of the Diocese of Hereford, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
