Map of England showing where the Walmesley arms are recorded
The Walmesley arms were recorded in England, c. 1560.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Walmesley 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 Walmesley Family in England
The family name Walmesley originates from the historic county of Lancashire in Northern England. It is a locative surname, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place name, likely a small settlement or homestead known as Walmesley. By the year 1560, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, the family was deeply connected to the social and religious shifts occurring in Northern England. Many early bearers of the name were prominent figures in the legal and religious communities of the region. They often held positions of influence, which helped the family name spread from its rural roots into the urban centers of York and beyond. Over the centuries, the spelling of the name evolved through various forms, but it remained firmly rooted in the northern English landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Walm-leah
A clearing belonging to a person named Walm.
This name
WalmesleyDerived from an Old English locative name referring to a woodland clearing associated with an individual named Walm.
also spelled
Walmsley
Related arms
Walmsleyvariant spelling
Abbsrecorded with Walmesley, same area
Maghullrecorded with Walmesley, same area
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
The National Archives, Probate Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
