A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hagley family of England.
Reg. 1492 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Per pale or and az. three bars counterchanged, in chief two palets, and as many cantons also counterchanged, an inescutcheon ar”
WorcesterHagley · Worcester, c. 1395
Where the Hagley Arms Were Recorded
Worcester
Map of England showing where the Hagley arms are recorded
The Hagley arms were recorded in Worcester, c. 1395.
Worcestershire was orchard and farming country with a scattering of old manors. Its gentry were middling rather than great, but a manor was a manor, and holding one was what brought 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.
Richard II of England
Sovereign of the period
Richard II of England
1377–1399
Reigning in England when the Hagley 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 Worcester.
Origin & History of the Hagley Family in England
The family name Hagley is a locative surname, which means it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from the Old English words "haga," meaning a hedge or an enclosure, and "leah," meaning a clearing or a meadow. This suggests that the earliest members of the family lived near a fenced-in woodland clearing. By the year 1395, historical records confirm that the family had established a notable presence in Worcester. During this period, the family likely lived as landholders or members of the local gentry who were deeply integrated into the social and economic life of the West Midlands. As the family grew, they moved through the region, carrying the name of their ancestral home with them as a way to identify their origins in an era when surnames were becoming essential for legal and tax purposes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haga and Leah
Haga refers to an enclosure or hedge and Leah means a clearing.
This name
HagleyA topographical name for someone who lived near a fenced-in woodland clearing or meadow.
also spelled
Haglee
Haglie
Hagly
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, Court Rolls of the Manor of Worcester, 1395
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
