Map of England showing where the Offley arms are recorded
The Offley arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1588.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Offley 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Offley Family in England
The surname Offley is of locational origin, derived from the village of Offley in Hertfordshire. During the late sixteenth century, the family established a notable presence in the county of Surrey. By 1588, members of the Offley family were active participants in the social and economic life of the region. Historical records suggest that they were often involved in the influential merchant classes of London, which allowed them to expand their landholdings into surrounding areas like Surrey. As the family grew in prominence, they became well-regarded figures in local administration and trade. Their transition from rural roots to urban commerce helped solidify the name within the English gentry during the Elizabethan era.
Offley Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Offa
An Old English personal name derived from the word for spear point.
This name
OffleyA habitational name referring to a clearing or meadow belonging to Offa.
also spelled
Offly
Ofly
Offlay
Related arms
Cammellrecorded with Offley, same area
Delafieldrecorded with Offley, same area
Hookerecorded with Offley, same area
Tooker-Whalleyrecorded with Offley, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Cottle, Basil. The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. 1967
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Surrey History Centre, Quarter Sessions Records, QS2/1
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
