Map of England showing where the Shatley arms are recorded
The Shatley arms were recorded in Buckingham, c. 1620.
Buckinghamshire was quiet farming country on the road out of London. Court officials and lawyers bought manors there within easy reach of the capital, and a manor was the usual reason to take 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 Shatley 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 Buckingham.
Origin & History of the Shatley Family in England
The Shatley family name is believed to have originated in England, with historical records placing early family members in Buckinghamshire as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, the name likely functioned as a locative surname, which was a common way for people to identify themselves based on the specific village or manor where they lived. Life in Buckingham during this period was defined by the agricultural rhythms of the English countryside and the growing influence of local parish administration. As the family established their roots in this region, they were part of a society transitioning through significant political and social changes. Over time, the spelling of the name likely evolved as it was recorded by local clerks and church officials who wrote down names based on how they sounded during spoken conversation. This process of phonetic recording helped shape the version of the name that persists today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sceat-leah
Old English for treasure or coin and a woodland clearing.
This name
ShatleyA habitational name referring to a clearing associated with a treasure or a specific person named Sceat.
also spelled
Hately
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Chibnall, A. C., Sherington: Fiefs and Fields of a Buckinghamshire Village, 1965
Reed, Michael, Buckinghamshire, 1993
The National Archives, Parish registers of Buckinghamshire, series reference D/A/Reg
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
swordJustice, and military honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
