Map of England showing where the Wilby arms are recorded
The Wilby arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Wilby 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 England.
Origin & History of the Wilby Family in England
The surname Wilby is rooted in the geography of medieval England, originating as a locational name for people who lived in or near a settlement called Wilby. These places, found in counties such as Norfolk and Northamptonshire, derived their names from Old Norse and Old English words meaning a farmstead or village belonging to a man named Wili. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Wilby family were integrated into the urban life of this northern trade hub, likely participating in the local guilds or merchant networks that defined the city during the Stuart period. As the family grew, they moved beyond their original village roots, helping to spread the name across different regions of northern England through trade, marriage, and migration.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Willa + by
Derived from the Old Norse personal name Willa and settlement suffix.
This name
WilbyRefers to a farmstead or village belonging to a person named Willa.
also spelled
Wilbey
Wilbie
Related arms
Wilbeyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 2011
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I
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millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
