A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hackney family of France.
Reg. 8047 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la pile de sin., ch. de trois têtes de griffon du champ, 2 et 1. Cq. cour. C.: une main de carn., en pal.”
MiddlesexMiddlesex, c. 1725
Where the Hackney Arms Were Recorded
Map of France showing where the Hackney arms are recorded
The Hackney arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1725.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Hackney arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Hackney Family in France
The surname Hackney is primarily locational in origin, meaning it was likely adopted by individuals who moved away from a specific place to identify their home of origin. The name is most strongly associated with the district of Hackney in Middlesex, which was a rural area on the outskirts of London during the early eighteenth century. By 1725, records indicate that families bearing this name were well-established within the Middlesex region, where they often worked as tradespeople or laborers in the growing urban landscape. Because the name was tied to a geographic location, it was common for families to adopt it as a way to distinguish themselves from others in the community. Over time, as these individuals migrated for work or family reasons, the name spread from its original roots in Middlesex to other parts of England and eventually across the globe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hake
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for hook.
This name
HackneyA topographic name for someone living near a hook-shaped piece of land.
also spelled
Middleton
Hackney
Middelton de Haknee
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives (UK), Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, series PROB 11
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
