Map of England showing where the Salway arms are recorded
The Salway 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 Salway 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 Salway Family in England
The surname Salway is believed to have originated in England as a topographic name, likely describing someone who lived near a specific path or a muddy passage. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Salway family were living in this region by 1620, a time when York served as a major center for trade and religious administration in Northern England. As residents of such a prominent city, these early family members were likely integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes that defined the urban economy of the era. Over the following generations, the name remained tied to the social and professional life of the North, reflecting the steady growth and migration patterns common to English families during the Stuart period.
Salway Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Sele-wiga
Old English elements meaning hall and war or battle.
This name
SalwayDerived from a locative or occupational source referring to a hall warrior or dweller by the hall.
also spelled
Salway
Sallowey
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, 1997
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
