Map of England showing where the Kilby arms are recorded
The Kilby arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
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 Kilby 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 England.
Origin & History of the Kilby Family in England
The surname Kilby is of locative origin, meaning it was originally taken from a place name to identify where a person lived or came from. The name is derived from the Old Norse word "kil," meaning a narrow inlet or a wedge-shaped piece of land, combined with the Old Norse suffix "by," which refers to a farmstead or a village. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Kilby family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a major center for trade and administration in Northern England. Families living in the city at that time were often involved in the bustling merchant guilds or the local craft industries that defined the regional economy. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the local community through their work and civic participation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cil
Old Norse word for a spring or a small stream.
This name
KilbyRefers to a farmstead or village located near a spring or stream.
also spelled
Kilbie
Kylby
Kilbey
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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1960
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I
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roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
