Map of England showing where the Lepley arms are recorded
The Lepley 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 Lepley 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 Lepley Family in England
The surname Lepley carries a history that reaches back to the early seventeenth century in England. Records confirm that members of the family were established in the city of York by 1620, a time when the region was a bustling center for trade and religious transition. The name likely evolved from local dialects or occupational descriptions common to the northern counties of England during the late Middle Ages. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, participating in the local economy and community life of the era. Over the following generations, the name persisted as families moved through the region, eventually spreading to other parts of the country and beyond. This early presence in York serves as a foundational chapter for the family, marking their long-standing connection to the history of northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lippe
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for people.
This name
LepleyA locational or patronymic surname referring to a descendant of someone named Lippe.
also spelled
Lepley
Leplie
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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bordureA difference between branches of one family
bordureA difference between branches of one family
