A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Whiteley family of England.
Reg. 3580 · English, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ar. on a bend az. three bezants”
DevonDevon, c. 1620
Where the Whiteley Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Whiteley arms are recorded
The Whiteley arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Whiteley 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Whiteley Family in England
The name Whiteley originates from Old English roots, specifically combining the words for white and meadow or clearing. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent, light-colored field or a patch of land known for its pale grass. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Whiteley family were well-established in the county of Devon. During this period, families often took their surnames from the specific landscape features of their home villages. As these individuals moved through the rural communities of southwest England, they helped shape the local agricultural traditions of the region. Their presence in Devon during the early seventeenth century marks a significant point in the family timeline, reflecting a history deeply connected to the English countryside and the naming customs of the medieval era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hwita-leah
Old English for white or bright clearing in a forest.
This name
WhiteleyRefers to a person who lived near a white or light-colored woodland clearing.
also spelled
Whiteley
Whytley
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Parish Registers of Devon, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
