A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Oakley family of Britain.
Reg. 4100 · Britain, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 d'arg. à la fasce de gu., ch. de trois fleurs-de-lis d'or et acc. de trois croiss. du sec. (Oakeley); aux 2 et 3 d'azur à un cerf pass. d'or (Strahan). C.: 1° un bras, arm. au nat., brandissant un sabre, le bras ch. de deux croiss. de gu., surm. chacun d'une fleur-de-lis d'or (Oakeley); 2° une tête et col de cerf (Strahan). D.: NON TIMEO, SED CAVEO”
Britainc. 1730
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Map of Britain showing where the Oakley arms are recorded
The Oakley arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1730.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
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.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Britain when the Oakley 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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Oakley Family in Britain
The surname Oakley is a classic example of a locative name, which means it was originally derived from a specific place where an early ancestor lived. The name comes from the Old English words "ac," meaning oak, and "leah," meaning a clearing or meadow. This suggests that the first people to use the name likely resided near a prominent oak forest or a cleared patch of woodland. By the time the family was firmly established in the county of Kent around 1730, the name had already been in use for several centuries across various parts of England. Families in Kent during this period were often connected to the local agricultural landscape, and the name served as a permanent link to the geography of their ancestral home. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving behind records in parish registers that document their daily lives and contributions to the community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ac and leah
Old English words for oak tree and a woodland clearing.
This name
OakleyDerived from a locational surname referring to a meadow or clearing situated near an oak forest.
also spelled
Oakley
Oakelee
Okeley
Okley
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Kent Archives, Canterbury Cathedral Archives: Parish Registers of Kent, 1730
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
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
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
