Map of England showing where the Ratley arms are recorded
The Ratley arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1620.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Ratley 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 Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Ratley Family in England
The family name Ratley has roots that trace back to the historic city of Lincoln in England. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were already established residents in this region. The name likely originated as a locative surname, which means it was used to identify people based on the specific village or area where they lived. In the case of Ratley, it is probable that the name was taken from the village of Ratley in Warwickshire. During the seventeenth century, families often moved between English counties for work or trade, which explains how the name became rooted in Lincoln. These early ancestors were likely part of the growing merchant or agricultural classes that helped shape the local economy of the East Midlands during the early modern period.
Ratley Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Ratley
Derived from the Old English words for roe deer and woodland clearing.
This name
RatleyA locational surname referring to a clearing in the woods frequented by roe deer.
also spelled
Radeley
Radleigh
Radly
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Lincolnshire Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
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