A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Shelby family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4982 · Britain, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'un trait, parli de deux autres, qui font six quartiers: au 1 fascé d'or et de sa. de huit pièces, la première fasce d'or ch. d'une étoile (5) d'azur; au 2 d'arg. à une croix florencée de gu.; au 3 d'azur treillissé d'arg.; au 4 d'arg. au lion d'azur; à la bande d'or, br. sur le lion; au 5 d'arg. à un écusson en abime de sa., acc. d'une orle de huit quintefeuilles de gu.; au 6 fascé d'or et de sa. de huit pièces. Cq. cour. C.: un buste de Sarasin, hab. de gu., tort. de sa. et d'or, portant au col une étoile d'azur. T.: à dextre un paysan, coiffé d'un chapeau à larges bords de sa., hab. d'une veste rayée horizontalement de gu. et de sin., revêtu d'une redingote de couleur grisâtre, le col entouré d'une cravate blanche, portant une culotte jaune, des bas blancs et des souliers de sa., appuyant sa main dextre sur une bèche au nat., le fer en bas; à sen. un matelot, coiffé d'un chapeau à bords rétrécis de sa., vêtu d'un jaquet au nat., portant un pantalon rayé verticalement d'azur et d'arg., la main sen. appuyée sur un drapeau rayé de gu. et d'arg., enroulé autour de sa hampe. D.: SEMPER SAPIT SUPREMA.”
Britainc. 1796
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Map of Britain showing where the Shelby arms are recorded
The Shelby arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1796.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in Britain when the Shelby arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Shelby Family in Britain
The surname Shelby is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a locative name derived from Old Norse and Old English elements. The name likely refers to a "willow farm" or a settlement situated near a willow grove, reflecting the rural origins of the families who first adopted it. While the name appears in various regions throughout British history, the presence of the Shelby family in Kent by 1796 suggests a long-standing connection to the agricultural and social fabric of southeastern England. During this period, families in Kent were often deeply involved in the local parish systems and the shifting economy of the late eighteenth century. By tracing these roots, we see a family name that evolved from a simple description of a place into a distinct identity held by those living and working in the English countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Barry of eight sa. and or”
NorthumberlandYearle · Northumberland, c. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Shelby arms are recorded
The Shelby arms were recorded in Northumberland, c. 1620.
Northumberland was border country facing Scotland, raided and fought over for three hundred years. Families held their land in return for defending it, and a defending household carried a shield.
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 Britain when the Shelby 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 Northumberland.
Origin & History of the Shelby Family in England
The family name Shelby traces its roots to the rugged landscape of Northern England, specifically within the historic county of Northumberland. By the early seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this region, which was then a frontier area marked by a complex social structure and a history of border conflicts. The name itself is thought to be locational, likely derived from an Old English term describing a willow farm or a sheltered settlement near a river. Life in Northumberland during the 1620s required great resilience, as families often lived in fortified stone houses to protect their land and livestock from the instability of the borderlands. This environment shaped the early Shelby family into a group defined by self-reliance and deep ties to the northern countryside. Over time, these early settlers moved beyond their local origins, eventually carrying their name and traditions across the Atlantic to the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Selby
Old Norse elements meaning willow farm or homestead by the willows.
This name
ShelbyDerived from a locational surname referring to a settlement near willow trees.
also spelled
Selbie
Selbey
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of British Place-Names, 2011
Kent Archives, Quarter Sessions Records: Q/S/P (Petitions and Orders), 1796
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
