Map of England showing where the Perley arms are recorded
The Perley 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 Perley 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 Perley Family in England
The Perley family name is believed to have originated in England, where it functioned as a locational or descriptive surname during the Middle Ages. By the early 17th century, members of the family were well-established in the historic city of York. Records confirm that the family was present in this region by 1620, a time when many English families were beginning to look toward the American colonies for new opportunities. The name itself likely evolved from older linguistic roots related to the French word for pear, suggesting that early ancestors may have been orchard keepers or lived near a prominent pear tree. As the family moved from their roots in York across the Atlantic to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, they became known as industrious settlers who played an active role in the development of early colonial towns. Their transition from English city life to the rugged frontier of the New World highlights the resilience and adaptability that defined many families of that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Perle
A small, precious spherical object formed within a mollusk.
This name
PerleyAn occupational name for a merchant or worker who dealt in precious pearls.
also spelled
Pearlie
Perley
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
Perley, Martin Van Buren, History and Genealogy of the Perley Family, 1906
Massachusetts State Archives, Colonial Records of the Massachusetts Bay, 1630–1686
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
