Map of England showing where the Robey arms are recorded
The Robey arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1614.
Leicestershire was grazing country, and wool and cattle made steady money rather than spectacular fortunes. Steady money bought manors, and manors are what brought families into the registers.
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 Robey 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 Leicester.
Origin & History of the Robey Family in England
The family name Robey traces its roots back to the medieval period in England, where it likely originated as a nickname or a shortened version of the name Robert. By the early seventeenth century, the family had firmly established a presence in the county of Leicestershire. Records from 1614 confirm that members of the Robey family were living and working in Leicester during this time, participating in the local community as the city grew into a significant regional hub. As a surname, it evolved through various spellings in parish registers and legal documents, reflecting the way names were recorded phonetically by clerks before standardized spelling became common. This early history highlights a family that was deeply integrated into the social and economic fabric of the English Midlands, living through a transformative era of local history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Robert
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bright fame or shining glory.
This name
RobeyA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Robert.
also spelled
Robie
Robey
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
Hoskins, W.G., Leicestershire: A Shell Guide, 1970
Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, Records of the Borough of Leicester
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
