A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hackford family of England.
Reg. 4468 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Chequy or and vert”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hackford Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hackford arms are recorded
The Hackford arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Hackford 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 England.
Origin & History of the Hackford Family in England
The surname Hackford is a locative name, meaning it likely originated from a specific place name in England. Historical records confirm that members of the Hackford family were established in the city of York by the year 1620. During this period, York was a significant center for trade and administration in Northern England, suggesting that early ancestors were likely involved in the local merchant class or skilled trades. The name itself follows a common pattern of English toponymic surnames, where individuals were identified by the village or geographic feature where they resided. As families moved from these rural areas into growing urban hubs like York, they carried their place-based names with them, which eventually became hereditary family identifiers passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haca and ford
A personal name meaning hook and a shallow river crossing.
This name
HackfordRefers to a person who lived near a river crossing associated with a man named Haca.
also spelled
Hakford
Hackfurd
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
