A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hayley family of England.
Reg. 3893 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cinquefoilHope and joy
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Or, on a cross az. a cinquefoil betw. four mascles of the first”
SalopSalop, c. 1701
Where the Hayley Arms Were Recorded
Salop
Map of England showing where the Hayley arms are recorded
The Hayley arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1701.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in England when the Hayley 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Hayley Family in England
The surname Hayley originates from Old English roots, specifically combining the words for hay and clearing or meadow. This suggests that the earliest ancestors who adopted the name were likely people who lived near or worked on a specific grassy field. By the year 1701, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the county of Salop, which is also known as Shropshire. During this period, families in this region were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trade. Living in a rural area like Salop meant that the family name was likely passed down through generations of farmers and laborers who helped shape the local landscape. These early Hayleys were part of a long tradition of families who defined their identity by the specific geography of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heg-leah
Old English words for hay or grass and a woodland clearing.
This name
HayleyA topographical surname referring to someone who lived near a meadow or clearing of hay.
also spelled
Haylie
Hailey
Heyley
Related arms
Haleysimilar arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cinquefoilHope and joy
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cinquefoilHope and joy
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
