Map of England showing where the Horsley arms are recorded
The Horsley arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Horsley 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 York.
Origin & History of the Horsley Family in England
The surname Horsley is a locative name, which means it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a nickname. It is derived from Old English words meaning a meadow where horses were kept. By the early 17th century, members of the Horsley family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major hub for trade and administration in Northern England. Families living there often played active roles in the local economy, serving as merchants, craftsmen, or members of the city’s governing bodies. Because the name was tied to a physical location, it likely began as a way to identify people who moved from a village called Horsley into the growing urban center of York. This transition from rural life to city living suggests that the family was part of the social shifts occurring in England during the early 1600s.
Horsley Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
hors and leah
Old English words for horse and a woodland clearing or meadow.
This name
HorsleyA habitational name referring to a meadow or clearing where horses were kept or grazed.
also spelled
Horsleigh
Horsly
Related arms
Horseleysimilar arms
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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bordureA difference between branches of one family
cinquefoilHope and joy
bordureA difference between branches of one family
cinquefoilHope and joy
