Map of England showing where the Penley arms are recorded
The Penley arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Penley 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 Penley Family in England
The surname Penley is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. Etymologists believe the name originates from the Old English words "penn," meaning a fold or enclosure, and "leah," which refers to a clearing or a meadow. By the time members of the Penley family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already been established in England for several generations. During the early seventeenth century, families in northern England often moved toward growing urban centers like York to find work in trade and local administration. These early Penleys were part of a society transitioning from medieval agricultural roots into a more structured urban life. Their presence in city records from this period suggests that they were settled members of the community who participated in the legal and social functions of the city.
Penley Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Penn-leah
Old English words for a hill or enclosure and a woodland clearing.
This name
PenleyDerived from a locational surname referring to someone living near a fenced clearing in the woods.
also spelled
Penly
Penleigh
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
