Map of England showing where the Paylor arms are recorded
The Paylor arms were recorded in York, c. 1585.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Paylor 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 York.
Origin & History of the Paylor Family in England
The surname Paylor is deeply rooted in the historic city of York, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1585. During this period, the name likely functioned as an occupational descriptor, as it is linguistically linked to the Middle English term "pailer." This word referred to a maker or seller of pails and buckets, which were essential household items for carrying water and storing goods in a pre-industrial society. As the family grew within the city, they became part of the local merchant and tradesman class that defined York’s economy during the late sixteenth century. By settling in such a prominent northern hub, the early Paylors were positioned within a vibrant community that relied on skilled craftspeople to support its daily operations and trade networks.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pailleur
Old French term for a thresher or a worker with straw.
This name
PaylorAn occupational surname for someone who threshed grain or worked with straw.
also spelled
Paylar
Pailer
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
York City Archives, Freemen of the City of York
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Smith, A.H., The Place-Names of the East Riding of Yorkshire and York, 1937
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
