A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Moody family of England.
Reg. 6903 · English, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Per pale az. and ar. a chev. engr. betw. three trefoils slipped, a chief per pale thereon three fusils all counterchanged, quartering SADLEIR, CHUTE, TROTT, and A'LEIGH”
BedfordAspley · Bedford, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Moody arms are recorded
The Moody arms were recorded in Bedford, c. 1620.
Bedfordshire was small, flat farming country close to London. Its manors were held by middling families rather than great ones, but a manor was a manor, and holding one brought 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 Moody 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 Bedford.
Origin & History of the Moody Family in England
The surname Moody traces its origins to the descriptive nicknames used in medieval England. It is derived from the Old English word "modig," which meant brave, bold, or spirited. People were often given this name to reflect their courageous personality or their quick temper. By the time the family was established in Bedford during the early 17th century, the name had become a stable hereditary surname passed down through generations. These early members of the family were part of a period of significant social change in England, and their presence in Bedford indicates they were likely settled members of the local community before some of their kin eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic.
Moody Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
modig
Old English and Old Norse term meaning brave or bold.
This name
MoodyA descriptive nickname for a person characterized by a spirited, courageous, or wrathful temperament.
also spelled
Moodie
Mudie
Related arms
Moodievariant spelling
Mudievariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
Bedfordshire Archives, Parish Registers of Bedford St. Paul, 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
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
