Map of England showing where the Tansley arms are recorded
The Tansley arms were recorded in England, c. 1619.
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 Tansley 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 Tansley Family in England
The surname Tansley is a locational name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the village of Tansley in Derbyshire, England, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Taneslege. The name likely combines an Old English personal name with the word "leah," which refers to a clearing in a forest or a meadow. By the early 17th century, members of the family had migrated from their ancestral roots to establish a presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that the Tansley family was well-established in York by 1619, where they integrated into the local community during a period of significant social and economic change in Northern England. This migration pattern reflects the common movement of families from rural villages to growing urban centers during the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Tan-leah
A clearing belonging to a person named Tan or a twiggy clearing.
This name
TansleyDerived from a place name in Nottinghamshire meaning a woodland clearing.
also spelled
Tansleigh
Tansly
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Mills, A. D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1991
Reaney, P. H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1619
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
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