Map of England showing where the Olney arms are recorded
The Olney arms were recorded in England, c. 1408.
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.
Henry IV of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry IV of England
1399–1413
Reigning in England when the Olney 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 Olney Family in England
The surname Olney is a locative name, which means it originated from people who lived in or near a specific place. Historical records confirm that the family was established in the city of York by 1408, where they were active members of the local community. The name itself is derived from the Old English words for a river meadow and an island, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived on land near a waterway. As the family grew, members moved throughout England to pursue various trades and professions. By settling in urban centers like York, these early individuals became part of the growing merchant and artisan classes that defined the late medieval period. Their presence in official city records indicates that they were recognized citizens who participated in the social and economic life of their time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Olla + eg
A personal name combined with the Old English word for island.
This name
OlneyRefers to a meadow or island belonging to a person named Olla.
also spelled
Olny
Olnay
Related arms
Onleyrecorded with Olney, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Raine, Angelo, Mediaeval York: A Topographical Survey Based on Original Sources, 1955
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
York City Archives, York Civic Records, Series Y/C
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
