Map of England showing where the Smedley arms are recorded
The Smedley 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 Smedley 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 Smedley Family in England
The surname Smedley is of Old English origin and is derived from the words "smeeth," meaning smooth or level, and "leah," which refers to a clearing or meadow. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a flat, open area of land. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Smedley family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, the family was part of the growing urban population in Northern England, likely participating in the local trades and civic life that defined the city. As the name spread through the region, it remained tied to the landscape and the practical occupations of the people who held it.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Smed-leah
A smooth or level forest clearing.
This name
SmedleyDerived from an Old English place name referring to a flat or smooth meadow.
also spelled
Smedlie
Smedlay
Smedly
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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