Henley Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Henley Family History

Henley Family History

The family history of the ancient name Henley was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Meaning 'of Henley', this is a locational name from the Dioceses of Oxford, Norwich, and Worcester. Variants of the name include Henly and Hendley. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in these countries. Examples of such are a Philipp de Heneleg, from County Salop, who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', in the Year 1273, and a John de Heneleghe, of County Somerset, who was recorded in the ancient book 'Kirby's Quest', in the reign of Edward III.

In Ireland this name and its variants were introduced into Ulster Province by settlers who arrived from England and Scotland, especially during the seventeenth century. During the 'Plantations of Ireland' in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries Ireland was colonized by the English Crown with this period marking the end of Gaelic supremacy in Ireland. This period brought an influx of settlers into the country but, unlike the earlier Anglo-Norman invasion of the twelfth century that resulted in a full integration into Irish society of the new arrivals, the same never occurred with the Ulster Planters who maintained their own distinct identity.

Henley is also an occasional variant of the Irish names Hennelly and Hanley. The Henley family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Henley descendants.