Map of England showing where the Welby arms are recorded
The Welby arms were recorded in Rutland, c. 1618.
Rutland is the smallest English county, but its land was good and its manors were held by families of standing. A small county with good land still produces its share of recorded 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 Welby 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 Rutland.
Origin & History of the Welby Family in England
The family name Welby originates from the Old Norse language and refers to a settlement or farmstead belonging to a person named Well. The name is deeply rooted in the geography of the English East Midlands, where families bearing this surname established themselves as landowners and local figures. By the year 1618, records confirm that members of the Welby family were well-established residents of the county of Rutland. During this period, the family was integrated into the local social structure, often serving in administrative roles or managing agricultural estates. Their presence in the region during the early seventeenth century reflects a long history of stability and land ownership that helped define their standing in the community for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wella and byr
Old Norse elements meaning a spring or well and a settlement.
This name
WelbyRefers to a person who lived near a spring or a farmstead by a well.
also spelled
Welbie
Related arms
Gregoryrecorded with Welby, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Record Office, Rutland Quarter Sessions Records, 1618
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
