Map of England showing where the Yee arms are recorded
The Yee arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Yee 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Yee Family in England
The family name Yee has deep roots that trace back to the English county of Somerset by the year 1620. During this period, families in the West Country were often tied closely to the land and local trade guilds. The name itself likely evolved from regional dialects and the way people recorded names in parish registers. As the family established itself in Somerset, they became part of the local social fabric during a time of great change in England. Many families from this region were eventually involved in the expansion of trade and the movement of people across the Atlantic. By settling in Somerset, the early members of the Yee family helped shape the local community and contributed to the historical record of the area through their daily lives and work.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ye
A Middle English term for the plural pronoun you.
This name
YeeA topographical name for someone who lived near a common or open land.
also spelled
Yee
Yey
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Somerset Heritage Centre, Parish Registers of Somerset, 1620
TNA (The National Archives), State Papers Domestic: James I, 1620
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ramLeadership and authority
ramLeadership and authority
