Map of England showing where the Keyes arms are recorded
The Keyes arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Keyes 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Keyes Family in England
The surname Keyes has deep roots in the English landscape, particularly within the county of Kent where the family was well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name is generally classified as a topographic or locational surname, likely originating from a person who lived near a quay or a wharf. In Middle English, the word "key" or "keye" referred to a landing place for ships, which suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family were often involved in trade, shipping, or life near the bustling coastal ports of southeastern England. By 1620, families bearing this name were already integrated into the local community, participating in the agricultural and maritime activities that defined Kentish life during that era. Over time, the spelling evolved from variations like Key or Keay into the modern form, reflecting the way local scribes recorded names based on their phonetic sound in regional dialects.
Keyes Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Caius
A Latin personal name meaning to rejoice.
This name
KeyesDerived from a medieval nickname for a quay or wharf worker.
also spelled
Keys
Keyse
Related arms
Kaysvariant spelling
Keysvariant spelling
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
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
