A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wildy family of England.
Reg. 5560 · English, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Az. on a chev. betw. three martlets or, five gouttes sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Wildy Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Wildy arms are recorded
The Wildy 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 Wildy 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 Wildy Family in England
The surname Wildy is deeply rooted in the history of Northern England, with documented evidence placing the family in the city of York as early as 1620. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, and families like the Wildys were often integrated into the local merchant or craft guilds that defined the city’s economy. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname, derived from the Middle English word "wilde," which was used to describe someone with a spirited or untamed personality. As the family established their presence in York, they became part of the social fabric of the region, navigating the significant political and religious shifts that characterized seventeenth-century England. Over time, the name evolved through various spellings as it was recorded in parish registers and local administrative documents, reflecting the way names were written down based on how they sounded to local clerks.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wilde
Old English word meaning untamed, wild, or uncultivated.
This name
WildyA locational or descriptive surname referring to someone who lived in an uncultivated or wild area.
also spelled
Wyldy
Wildie
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
