A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Allaway family of England.
Reg. 4259 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Per bend az. and sa. three boars' heads couped bendways betw. two estoiles ar”
HerefordPencraig Court · Hereford, c. 1620
Where the Allaway Arms Were Recorded
Hereford
Map of England showing where the Allaway arms are recorded
The Allaway arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1620.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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 Allaway 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Allaway Family in England
The Allaway family name is deeply rooted in the history of the English West Midlands, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of Hereford as early as 1620. The name itself is thought to be locational or topographical in origin, likely derived from an old settlement or a specific landscape feature known to early inhabitants. During the seventeenth century, families in this region were often involved in local agriculture, trade, or the burgeoning craft industries that defined the economy of the Welsh borderlands. As the family established itself in Hereford, they became part of the social fabric of a city known for its strategic importance and its role as a center for regional commerce. Over time, the name evolved through various spellings as it was recorded in parish registers and legal documents, reflecting the way names were written down by clerks based on how they sounded at the time. This long presence in the area suggests that the Allaways were a settled and consistent part of the local community for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alweald
Old English elements meaning elf and ruler or power.
This name
AllawayA locational surname derived from a settlement of the elf ruler.
also spelled
Alloway
Alleway
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Herefordshire Archives, Hereford City Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, P. H. and Wilson, R. M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
