A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Livsey family of Britain.
Reg. 7108 · Britain, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au lion de gu., acc. de trois trèfles de sin. C.: une patte de lion de gu.”
KentKent, c. 1700
Where the Livsey Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Livsey arms are recorded
The Livsey arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1700.
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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Livsey arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Livsey Family in Britain
The family name Livsey is rooted in the English landscape, with early records placing the family in the county of Kent by the year 1700. The name is classified as a locational surname, which means it likely originated from a specific place or settlement where the first members of the family resided. During the eighteenth century, families in Kent were often tied to the local agricultural economy or the growing maritime trade along the coast. As the name spread through the region, it became part of the social fabric of rural English life. The spelling of the name evolved over time as it was recorded in parish registers and local census documents, reflecting the way names were written down by clerks based on how they sounded. By establishing themselves in Kent, the early Livsey family became part of a long tradition of families who helped shape the local history and community development of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Leofsig
Derived from Old English elements meaning dear or beloved and victory.
This name
LivseyA locational surname originating from a place in Lancashire meaning Leofsig's island or river meadow.
also spelled
Livesay
Livsey
Lyvesey
Lyvesay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Kent Archives, Parish Registers of Kent, 1700–1750
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
