Map of England showing where the Smalley arms are recorded
The Smalley arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1620.
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 Smalley 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 Smalley Family in England
The surname Smalley is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people based on the place where they lived. It is derived from the Old English words "smæl," meaning narrow or small, and "leah," which refers to a forest clearing or a meadow. By combining these, the name described someone who resided near a small or narrow clearing in the woods. While the family name is found in various parts of England, historical records confirm that members of the Smalley family were well-established in Leicester by 1620. During this period, families in the region were often involved in agriculture or the growing textile trade, which helped them put down deep roots in the local community. Over several generations, the name became a permanent fixture in the social and economic life of the Leicester area, reflecting the common practice of using landscape features to identify families in early modern England.
Smalley Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
smal leah
Old English for small or narrow woodland clearing.
This name
SmalleyRefers to someone who lived near a small or narrow forest clearing.
also spelled
Smally
Smallie
Smaly
Related arms
Smallsame arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Leicestershire Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1603–1625
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
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roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chess rookStrategy, and the defence of a position
