A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hedley family of England.
Reg. 0367 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Gu. on a chev. betw. three falcons ar. membered and belled or, a cross crosslet fitchée sa”
HuntingdonHuntingdon, c. 1620
Where the Hedley Arms Were Recorded
Huntingdon
Map of England showing where the Hedley arms are recorded
The Hedley arms were recorded in Huntingdon, c. 1620.
Huntingdonshire was small, flat fen-edge country. Drainage made new farmland and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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 Hedley 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 Huntingdon.
Origin & History of the Hedley Family in England
The surname Hedley is primarily of English origin and is classified as a locational name. This means that the first people to carry the name likely took it from a specific place where they lived or worked. The name is derived from the Old English words "hæth," meaning heather, and "leah," meaning a clearing or meadow. By combining these, the name originally described someone who lived near a heather-covered field or a clearing in the woods. While the name is most famously linked to the northern counties of England, historical records confirm that members of the Hedley family were established in Huntingdon by 1620. During this period, families often moved to growing market towns to seek new opportunities in trade or agriculture. As these individuals settled into the community, the name became a permanent fixture in the local records of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hæth leah
Old English for heather and a woodland clearing or meadow.
This name
HedleyRefers to a person who lived near a clearing overgrown with heather.
also spelled
Hedleigh
Hedlie
Hedlay
Related arms
Headley, Baronvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Huntingdonshire Archives, Parish Registers of Huntingdon, 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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
