Map of England showing where the Vile arms are recorded
The Vile 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 Vile 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 Vile Family in England
The surname Vile has deep roots in the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were established as early as 1620. The name likely originated as a topographic or locational descriptor, often used in medieval England to identify individuals who lived near a specific landmark or within a particular settlement. In the seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families like the Viles were often integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Northern England, navigating the significant political and economic shifts that defined the Stuart era. By settling in such a prominent city, early generations of the Vile family helped preserve their name in local parish registers and legal documents, which remain the primary way historians track their movement through the centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Villa
Latin term for a country house, farm, or estate.
This name
VileA topographic name for someone who lived at or worked on a farmstead.
also spelled
Vyle
Vyll
Viel
Related arms
Vielvariant spelling
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 Archives: Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
