A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lawley family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9413 · French, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 coupé d'arg. sur sa.; à la fasce brét. et c.-brét. de l'un en l'autre, acc. de trois martinets de l'un à l'autre (Thompson); aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à la croix pattée échiq. d'or et de sa. (Lawley). C.: 1º un bras éc. d'or et d'azur, gantelé au nat., la main de carn. tenant une lance de tournoi en barre (Thompson); 2º un loup pass. de sa. (Lawley). S.: deux loups de sa, ornés d'un collier d'or, auquel est suspendu un écusson d'arg., ch. d'un chev. de sa., acc. de trois têtes de More, les deux du chef affr. D.: JE VEUX DE BONNE GUERRE.”
Francec. 1641
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Map of France showing where the Lawley arms are recorded
The Lawley arms were recorded in France, c. 1641.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1617–1643
Reigning in France when the Lawley arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Lawley Family in France
The history of the Lawley family in France is deeply rooted in the coastal region of Bretagne, where records confirm their presence by the year 1641. During this era, families in Bretagne often lived in close-knit communities that were heavily influenced by the maritime trade and the unique cultural traditions of the Armorican peninsula. The name likely evolved as a way to identify individuals based on their specific local ties or the geographic features of their ancestral lands. Life in the seventeenth century for these early family members involved navigating the complex social structures of a province that maintained a distinct identity separate from the rest of the French kingdom. By establishing themselves in this region, the Lawley family became part of a long tradition of settlers who contributed to the agricultural and social development of the Breton countryside. Their presence in 1641 marks a significant point in time when the family was already integrated into the local parish systems and regional record-keeping practices of western France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
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)
“Ar. a fesse sa. in chief three escallops of the last”
GloucesterGloucester, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Lawley arms are recorded
The Lawley arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
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 France when the Lawley 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 Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Lawley Family in England
The surname Lawley originates from the English landscape, specifically derived from the Old English words "law," meaning a hill or burial mound, and "ley," which refers to a meadow or clearing. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Gloucestershire. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Lawley family were living in this region, where they likely worked as farmers or tradespeople within the local community. During this era, families often took their names from the specific geographic features near their homes, suggesting that the earliest ancestors bearing this name lived near a prominent hill or a well-known meadow. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the English countryside, contributing to the local economy and the development of their parish through generations of steady labor and community involvement.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lau
A Germanic element meaning lion or a variant of hill.
This name
LawleyDerived from a locative name referring to a meadow or clearing near a hill.
also spelled
Lawly
Lawlie
Lawlee
Related arms
Langleesimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
Poter de Courcy, Pol, Nobiliaire et armorial de Bretagne, 1890
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
