A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wheatly family of Britain.
Reg. 0225 · 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
Where the Wheatly Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Wheatly arms are recorded
The Wheatly 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 Wheatly 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 Wheatly Family in Britain
The surname Wheatly is a topographical name that originated in England, likely describing people who lived near a field of wheat. The name is derived from the Old English words "hwæte," meaning wheat, and "leah," which refers to a clearing or a meadow. By the early 19th century, families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Kent. Records from 1817 confirm that members of the Wheatly family were active within this region during a time of significant agricultural and social change in rural England. These early ancestors were likely part of the local farming communities that defined the landscape of Kent for generations. As the family grew, they contributed to the local history of their parishes through their work and daily lives in these small, historic settlements.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hwaete-leah
Old English for wheat and a woodland clearing or meadow.
This name
WheatlyA habitational name referring to a person who lived near a wheat field or clearing.
also spelled
Wheatly
Whetley
Wheatlie
Wheteley
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841, HO 107
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
