A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wheatley family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4614 · Britain, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
ermineDignity and rank
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Palé contre-palé d'azur et d'or de trois pièces, l'or semé de mouch. d'herm. de sa.; chaque pièce d'azur ch. d'un léopard lionné d'or. Cq. timbré d'une couronne murale d'or. C.: deux bras, parés d'azur, rebr. d'arg., les mains de carn. soutenant une gerbe d'or, enfilant une couronne d'azur. D.: I TRUST IN MY GOD.”
BritainLondres, c. 1817
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Map of Britain showing where the Wheatley arms are recorded
The Wheatley arms were recorded in Londres, c. 1817.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1801–1820
Reigning in Britain when the Wheatley arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Wheatley Family in Britain
The surname Wheatley is a classic example of a locative name, which means it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or personal trait. The name comes from the Old English words "hwǣte," meaning wheat, and "lēah," meaning a clearing or meadow. This suggests that the earliest families to carry the name likely lived near a wheat field or a farmstead located in a woodland clearing. While members of the family were documented in Kent by 1817, the name itself has much deeper roots across various English counties, particularly in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire where several villages share the name. Over many centuries, families moved from these rural settlements to larger towns and cities, carrying the name with them as they sought new opportunities in agriculture and trade. By the time the family appeared in the Kentish records of the early nineteenth century, the name had already been established in the British landscape for hundreds of years.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
handFaith, sincerity and justice
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Sa. two hands issuing from the base ar. holding a human heart gu”
BedfordBedford, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Wheatley arms are recorded
The Wheatley arms were recorded in Bedford, c. 1620.
Bedfordshire was small, flat farming country close to London. Its manors were held by middling families rather than great ones, but a manor was a manor, and holding one brought 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 Britain when the Wheatley 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 Bedford.
Origin & History of the Wheatley Family in England
The surname Wheatley originated as a locational name in England, derived from Old English words meaning a clearing where wheat was grown. Families bearing this name were often associated with small agricultural settlements or manors that shared this descriptive title. By the early 17th century, the name was well-established across several English counties, including Bedfordshire. Historical records confirm that members of the Wheatley family were living in Bedford by 1620, a time when the town served as a significant market center and a hub for local trade. These early ancestors were part of a society transitioning through a period of great social and economic change, and their presence in Bedford suggests they were likely involved in the local farming or merchant communities that defined the region during the reign of King James I.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hwaete and Leah
Old English words for wheat and a woodland clearing or meadow.
This name
WheatleyA habitational name referring to a clearing where wheat was grown.
also spelled
Wheatly
Whetley
Wheatlie
Wheteley
Related arms
Wethellsimilar arms
Wethillsimilar arms
Wheathillsimilar arms
Broughtonrecorded with Wheatley, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of British Place-Names, 2003
The National Archives, Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
ermineDignity and rank
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
ermineDignity and rank
lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
