Map of England showing where the Peachey arms are recorded
The Peachey arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1614.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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 Peachey 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 Sussex.
Origin & History of the Peachey Family in England
The surname Peachey is rooted in the medieval period and likely originated as a descriptive nickname. Etymologists believe the name evolved from the Old French word *peche*, which referred to a sinner, or alternatively, it may have been a topographical name for someone who lived near a peach tree or an orchard. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Sussex. Records from 1614 confirm that members of the Peachey family were living in this region, where they were often involved in local agriculture and community life. Over time, the spelling of the name shifted through various forms such as Pechie or Peche, eventually settling into the modern version that remains common in southern England today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Peche
Derived from the Old French word for a sinner or sin.
This name
PeacheyAn occupational or descriptive name originally denoting a sinner or a person from Peche in Normandy.
also spelled
Peache
Peachy
Pechey
Related arms
Peachevariant spelling
Pecheyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
The National Archives, Probate records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1614
West Sussex Record Office, Parish registers of the Diocese of Chichester, 1614
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
