Map of England showing where the Rhea arms are recorded
The Rhea arms were recorded in Worcester, c. 1620.
Worcestershire was orchard and farming country with a scattering of old manors. Its gentry were middling rather than great, but a manor was a manor, and holding one was what brought 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 Rhea 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 Worcester.
Origin & History of the Rhea Family in England
The family name Rhea has deep roots that trace back to the British Isles, with early records confirming that members of the family were established in Worcester, England, by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a topographical surname, which was a common way to identify people based on the landscape where they lived. It is believed to be a variation of the Middle English word for a stream or a river, suggesting that the first people to carry this name lived near a prominent water source. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of Worcester, participating in the trade and community life of this historic cathedral city. Over the following centuries, the name evolved in spelling as it spread across different regions, eventually becoming the version we recognize today. This transition reflects the way surnames were often recorded phonetically by clerks who wrote down names based on how they sounded in local dialects.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rheos
Derived from the Greek word meaning to flow or stream.
This name
RheaAssociated with the mythological earth goddess and the concept of flowing water.
also spelled
Ray
Raye
Reay
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Fletcher, Anthony, A County Community in Peace and War: Sussex 1600-1660, 1975
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
