Origin of the Name Jay
The
Jay family history was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives. Variantsof Jay include Jaye . This is a nickname meaning 'the jay', from a chatterer, or a gaily-dressed person. This name is of English descent and is found in many ancient manuscripts in the above country. Examples of such are a John le Jay, who was recorded in the 'Writs of Parliament' in the year 1313 and a Thomas le Jay, who was recorded in the 'Fines Rolls' during the reign of Edward II .
Names were recorded in these ancient documents to make it easier for their overlords to collect taxes and to keep records of the population at any given time. When the overlords acquired land by either force or gifts from their rulers, they created charters of ownership for themselves and their vassals. It was by creating, maintaining and updating these reference books that they were able to maintain their authority and enforce laws.
In Ireland the name Jay and its variants were introduced into the Province of Ulster by settlers who arrived from England and Scotland , especially during the seventeenth century.
The Jay coat of arms came into existence centuries ago. The process of creating coats of arms (also often called family crests) began in the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this. The new art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own coat of arms, including all Jay descendants.