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Coats of Arms
England
The coat of arms found repeatedly throughout the Shirley Association website until recently is legally borne by the Shirleys of Ettington Warw., Leic. and Derbyshire and its various cadet branches in Sussex England.

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The British herald, or Cabinet of armorial bearings of the nobility & gentry of Great Britain [1830] Vol II... By THOMAS. ROBSON

Sherle, or, three palets sa.

Sherley, or Shirley, [Sherley, Lanc.] ar. three trees vert.

Sherley, or Sherlawe, [Norf.] ar. a chev. az. betw. three cross crosslets fitchée gu.

Sherley, or Shirley, gu. a chev. lozengy, ar. and sa. betw. three fleurs-de-lis or. ---Crest, a crosier or.

Sherley, gu. on a bend or, three eagles' legs sa.

Sherley, or Shorley, ar. three dung-forks gu.

Sherley, or Schurley, paly of four, az. and ar. ; on a fess of the second, a martlet sa.

SHIRLEY, Earl FERRERS, Viscount Tamworth, and a Baronet. [Creations, Bart. 22 May, 1611; Visc, and Earl, 3 Sept. 1711. Residences, Chartley Castle, Staffs.; Stanton Harold, near Asbby-de-la-Zouche ; Rakedale, near Melton-Mowbray ; and Radcliffe on Wreke, near Leicester. Town House, 28, Norfolk Street, Park Lane] quarterly ; first and fourth, paly of six, or and az. a cantone erm. for Shirley; second and third, France and England quarterly, within a bordure ar. for Plantagenet. —Crest, the bust of a Saracen's head, in profile, couped, ppr. wreathed about the temples or and az. Supporters, dexter, a talbot erm. eared and ducally gorged gu. ; sinister, a rein-deer gu. billettée or, attired ar. ducally gorged of the second. Motto, Honor virtutis praeminum.

Shirley, [Brailsford and Edneston, Derb. ; Preston, Leic. ; and Ettington, Warw. Temp. Henry I.] paly of six, or and az. ; a canton erm.—Crest, as the last.

Shirley. The same arms.—Crest, a Moor's bead, couped at the shoulders, sa.

Shirley, [Preston, Suss.] The same arms, with due diff.

Shirley, [London. Confirmed 10 Sept. 1609] gu. a chev. counter-componee, ar. and sa. betw. three fleurs-de-lis or.—Crest, three broad arrows, two in saltier, and one in pale, or, plumed ar. enfiled with a garland of laurel vert.

Shirley, [ Ifield, Suss.] bendy of six, ar. and az. ; a canton erm.—Crest, out of a ducal coronet ar. a stag's head of the last.

Shirley, or Shurley, [Ifield, Suss. Temp. Henry VIII.] barry of six, ar. and az. ; a canton erm.

Shirley, [Ifield, Suss. ; ancient coat] paly of four, gu. and vert; ou a fesse wavy or, betw. three stags' heads, couped, ar. as many cornish choughs ppr.

Shirley, az. two bars wavy ar. betw. three swans of the second, beaked gu.

Shirley, az. two bars wavy betw. three ducks, ar.

Shirley, bendy of eight, ar. and az.

Shirley, gu. a chev. betw. three fleurs-de-lis, or. [note the similarity to the Shirleys of London]

Shorley, [Enfield] paly of six, ar. and az. ; a canton erm. with a crescent.

Shorley, ar. three three-pronged forks gu.

Shorley, gu. a chev. chequy, ar. and sa.

Scherley, gu. on a bend ar. three eagle's legs, couped at the thigh, sa.

Scherley, gu. fretty, gobony, ar. and sa.

Scherley, gu. a chev. componée, ar. and sa. betw. three fleurs-de-lis or. [note the similarity to the Shirleys of London]

Scherly, az. betw. two bars erm. three bezants. [another source lists this grant to a William Scherley]

Arms not included in this book

William de Shirley of Shirley granted arms of paly of six or and azure and a bend gules - Arms of Derbyshire c1250 - [source: Charles Roll]

Arms of Byrde family [quarterings] 1. Byrde. 2. Shirley, Gu., chevron erm. between 3 roses or. 3. Nanty, Barry nebuly of 6, or, gu., a border gobony arg., gu. 4. Woodall, arg, a cross flory gu.[source: Harl MSS. Brit Museum]

Arms of Shirley of Ettington (ancient) paly of 6 or. and sa.

Heraldic Differences
Differentiating between various sons of the arms bearer

The eldest son, during the lifetime of his father, bears the family arms with the addition of a label;

the second son a crescent,

the third, a mullet,

the fourth, a martlet,

the fifth, an annulet;

the sixth, a fleur-de-lis;

the seventh, a rose; the eighth, a cross moline; the ninth, a double quatrefoil.

Dictionary

http://www.heraldryclipart.com/heraldry-dictionary.html

Ar. Contraction for Argent.

Az. Azure. Blue, expressed in engraving by horizontal lines.

Barry. A term to express the field or charge when equally divided by horizontal lines. These division are composed of two tinctures and their number must be named, e.g. Barry of eight, Barry of ten, etc.

Bendy. Is when the field is equally divided bendways and may be of any number of parts.

Canton. One of the Sub-Ordinaries, and is always understood to occupy the dexter-chief of the escutcheon, unless termed a Sinister Canton, and to possess only the third part of the Chief.

Checky, Checkie, Chequy, Checkered, Chequered, Cheque, Chequee or Checquy. A term to express the field, or any bearing, when divided into small squares of alternate tinctures, and must consist of three or more rows.

Chev. Cheveron or Chevron. One of the honourable ordinaries, and occupies one third of the field, as Ar. a chev. gu. Diminutives of the chev., are frequently met with, and, when placed at equal distances from each other, are blazoned Cheveronels, as, or three chevronels gu. If borne in pairs they are termed Couple-close, and when a chev. is placed between them, it may be blazoned either a chev. betw. two couple-closes, or a chev. cottised.

Crescent. A half-moon with the horns turned upwards. If the horns are turned towards the dexter, it is termed an increscent. If the horns are to the sinister, a decrescent. When the horns are turned down it is termed a crescent reversed.

Ermine. A white fur with black tufts.

Fess or Fesse. One of the honourable ordinaries, formed by two horizontal lines drawn across the field. The Fesse occupies the third of the field, and like the other ordinaries, is subject to all the accidental lines as Engrailed, Wavy, etc. When the Fesse is placed higher than the centre, it is said to be transposed; and when below the centre, it is termed abaisse. The diminutives of the Fesse are the Bar, Closet, and Barrulet. These are also subject to the accidental lines; e.g. Three Bars Nowy, two Closets, or Cottises Fleury

Fitche, Fitchée, Fiche, Fitched or Fitchy. From the Latin figo to fix or fasten; a term applied to a cross, the lower extremity of which is sharpened to a point, to enable those Primitive Christians who originally carried them on their pilgrimages to easily fix them in the ground.

Fleur-de-lis, contracted de-lis. Also termed Flower-de-luce; is variously depicted. As to its origin antiquaries are at variance, some supposing it to be the flower of the iris, others that of the common lily, whose name "lys" has a certain resemblance to that of Leys, or Louis, a common name of the Kings of France, while a third party, with perhaps more probability, suppose it to be the head of a partizan, or halberr. When the field, or any charge, is promiscuously scattered over with de-li', it is termed strewed, powdered, or replemished with fleur-de-lis; or it is said to be Semée-de-lis.

Gu or gules. red in heraldry

Lozenge. The Lozenge is a rhomboidal figure that has equal sides, and unequal angles. The arms of all Maidens and Widows are borne in a Lozenge. Lozengee or Lozengy. Terms to express the field when covered with lozenges of alternate tinctures

Or. Gold or yellow. See Tinctures. The term Gold may be used in blazoning a coat. In engraving, "Or" is expressed by dots.

Paly. A term to express the field or any bearing when divided into any number of equal pieces by perpendicular lines.

S. and Sa. Are both used to denote sable.

Vert. Green; expressed in engraving by diagonal lines, drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base.

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		Coats of Arms England	The coat of arms found repeatedly throughout the Shirley Association website until recently is legally borne by the Shirleys of Ettington Warw., Leic. and Derbyshire and its various cadet branches in Sussex England.
		< Back to Non-member Research Index Page
		The British herald, or Cabinet of armorial bearings of the nobility & gentry of Great Britain [1830] Vol II... By THOMAS. ROBSON Sherle, or, three palets sa. Sherley, or Shirley, [Sherley, Lanc.] ar. three trees vert. Sherley, or Sherlawe, [Norf.] ar. a chev. az. betw. three cross crosslets fitchée gu. Sherley, or Shirley, gu. a chev. lozengy, ar. and sa. betw. three fleurs-de-lis or. ---Crest, a crosier or. Sherley, gu. on a bend or, three eagles' legs sa. Sherley, or Shorley, ar. three dung-forks gu. Sherley, or Schurley, paly of four, az. and ar. ; on a fess of the second, a martlet sa. SHIRLEY, Earl FERRERS, Viscount Tamworth, and a Baronet. [Creations, Bart. 22 May, 1611; Visc, and Earl, 3 Sept. 1711. Residences, Chartley Castle, Staffs.; Stanton Harold, near Asbby-de-la-Zouche ; Rakedale, near Melton-Mowbray ; and Radcliffe on Wreke, near Leicester. Town House, 28, Norfolk Street, Park Lane] quarterly ; first and fourth, paly of six, or and az. a cantone erm. for Shirley; second and third, France and England quarterly, within a bordure ar. for Plantagenet. —Crest, the bust of a Saracen's head, in profile, couped, ppr. wreathed about the temples or and az. Supporters, dexter, a talbot erm. eared and ducally gorged gu. ; sinister, a rein-deer gu. billettée or, attired ar. ducally gorged of the second. Motto, Honor virtutis praeminum. Shirley, [Brailsford and Edneston, Derb. ; Preston, Leic. ; and Ettington, Warw. Temp. Henry I.] paly of six, or and az. ; a canton erm.—Crest, as the last. Shirley. The same arms.—Crest, a Moor's bead, couped at the shoulders, sa. Shirley, [Preston, Suss.] The same arms, with due diff. Shirley, [London. Confirmed 10 Sept. 1609] gu. a chev. counter-componee, ar. and sa. betw. three fleurs-de-lis or.—Crest, three broad arrows, two in saltier, and one in pale, or, plumed ar. enfiled with a garland of laurel vert. Shirley, [ Ifield, Suss.] bendy of six, ar. and az. ; a canton erm.—Crest, out of a ducal coronet ar. a stag's head of the last. Shirley, or Shurley, [Ifield, Suss. Temp. Henry VIII.] barry of six, ar. and az. ; a canton erm. Shirley, [Ifield, Suss. ; ancient coat] paly of four, gu. and vert; ou a fesse wavy or, betw. three stags' heads, couped, ar. as many cornish choughs ppr. Shirley, az. two bars wavy ar. betw. three swans of the second, beaked gu. Shirley, az. two bars wavy betw. three ducks, ar. Shirley, bendy of eight, ar. and az. Shirley, gu. a chev. betw. three fleurs-de-lis, or. [note the similarity to the Shirleys of London] Shorley, [Enfield] paly of six, ar. and az. ; a canton erm. with a crescent. Shorley, ar. three three-pronged forks gu. Shorley, gu. a chev. chequy, ar. and sa. Scherley, gu. on a bend ar. three eagle's legs, couped at the thigh, sa. Scherley, gu. fretty, gobony, ar. and sa. Scherley, gu. a chev. componée, ar. and sa. betw. three fleurs-de-lis or. [note the similarity to the Shirleys of London] Scherly, az. betw. two bars erm. three bezants. [another source lists this grant to a William Scherley] Arms not included in this book William de Shirley of Shirley granted arms of paly of six or and azure and a bend gules - Arms of Derbyshire c1250 - [source: Charles Roll] Arms of Byrde family [quarterings] 1. Byrde. 2. Shirley, Gu., chevron erm. between 3 roses or. 3. Nanty, Barry nebuly of 6, or, gu., a border gobony arg., gu. 4. Woodall, arg, a cross flory gu.[source: Harl MSS. Brit Museum] Arms of Shirley of Ettington (ancient) paly of 6 or. and sa. Heraldic Differences Differentiating between various sons of the arms bearer The eldest son, during the lifetime of his father, bears the family arms with the addition of a label; the second son a crescent, the third, a mullet, the fourth, a martlet, the fifth, an annulet; the sixth, a fleur-de-lis; the seventh, a rose; the eighth, a cross moline; the ninth, a double quatrefoil. Dictionary http://www.heraldryclipart.com/heraldry-dictionary.html Ar. Contraction for Argent. Az. Azure. Blue, expressed in engraving by horizontal lines. Barry. A term to express the field or charge when equally divided by horizontal lines. These division are composed of two tinctures and their number must be named, e.g. Barry of eight, Barry of ten, etc. Bendy. Is when the field is equally divided bendways and may be of any number of parts. Canton. One of the Sub-Ordinaries, and is always understood to occupy the dexter-chief of the escutcheon, unless termed a Sinister Canton, and to possess only the third part of the Chief. Checky, Checkie, Chequy, Checkered, Chequered, Cheque, Chequee or Checquy. A term to express the field, or any bearing, when divided into small squares of alternate tinctures, and must consist of three or more rows. Chev. Cheveron or Chevron. One of the honourable ordinaries, and occupies one third of the field, as Ar. a chev. gu. Diminutives of the chev., are frequently met with, and, when placed at equal distances from each other, are blazoned Cheveronels, as, or three chevronels gu. If borne in pairs they are termed Couple-close, and when a chev. is placed between them, it may be blazoned either a chev. betw. two couple-closes, or a chev. cottised. Crescent. A half-moon with the horns turned upwards. If the horns are turned towards the dexter, it is termed an increscent. If the horns are to the sinister, a decrescent. When the horns are turned down it is termed a crescent reversed. Ermine. A white fur with black tufts. Fess or Fesse. One of the honourable ordinaries, formed by two horizontal lines drawn across the field. The Fesse occupies the third of the field, and like the other ordinaries, is subject to all the accidental lines as Engrailed, Wavy, etc. When the Fesse is placed higher than the centre, it is said to be transposed; and when below the centre, it is termed abaisse. The diminutives of the Fesse are the Bar, Closet, and Barrulet. These are also subject to the accidental lines; e.g. Three Bars Nowy, two Closets, or Cottises Fleury Fitche, Fitchée, Fiche, Fitched or Fitchy. From the Latin figo to fix or fasten; a term applied to a cross, the lower extremity of which is sharpened to a point, to enable those Primitive Christians who originally carried them on their pilgrimages to easily fix them in the ground. Fleur-de-lis, contracted de-lis. Also termed Flower-de-luce; is variously depicted. As to its origin antiquaries are at variance, some supposing it to be the flower of the iris, others that of the common lily, whose name "lys" has a certain resemblance to that of Leys, or Louis, a common name of the Kings of France, while a third party, with perhaps more probability, suppose it to be the head of a partizan, or halberr. When the field, or any charge, is promiscuously scattered over with de-li', it is termed strewed, powdered, or replemished with fleur-de-lis; or it is said to be Semée-de-lis. Gu or gules. red in heraldry Lozenge. The Lozenge is a rhomboidal figure that has equal sides, and unequal angles. The arms of all Maidens and Widows are borne in a Lozenge. Lozengee or Lozengy. Terms to express the field when covered with lozenges of alternate tinctures Or. Gold or yellow. See Tinctures. The term Gold may be used in blazoning a coat. In engraving, "Or" is expressed by dots. Paly. A term to express the field or any bearing when divided into any number of equal pieces by perpendicular lines. S. and Sa. Are both used to denote sable. Vert. Green; expressed in engraving by diagonal lines, drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base.

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