A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wigley family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Paly of six embattled ar. and sa”
The Wigley arms were recorded in Derby, c. 1619.
Derbyshire had lead mines in its hills and good grazing in its valleys. Both made steady money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names into the heraldic records.
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.
Reigning in England when the Wigley arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Wigley is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, specifically originating as a topographic surname. It is derived from the Old English words "wic," meaning a dairy farm or settlement, and "leah," which refers to a clearing or a meadow. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing the name likely lived near a prominent woodland clearing used for farming. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in Derby, as evidenced by records from 1619. During this era, families with this name were often integrated into the local mercantile and civic life of the town. As the family grew, they became deeply connected to the social and economic development of the Derbyshire region, transitioning from their rural origins into the bustling urban environment of the growing city.
Old English words for beetle or warrior and a forest clearing.
