A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hackshaw family of England.
Reg. 0755 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Or, a chev. betw. three herons' heads erased gu”
SalopHutton · Salop, c. 1620
Where the Hackshaw Arms Were Recorded
Salop
Map of England showing where the Hackshaw arms are recorded
The Hackshaw arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1620.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Hackshaw 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Hackshaw Family in England
The surname Hackshaw is a locational name that likely originated from a specific geographic feature in the English landscape. The name is composed of two Old English elements: "haca," which refers to a hook or a bend, and "sceaga," which describes a small wood or a thicket. This suggests that the earliest members of the family lived near a curved or hooked-shaped woodland. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that the Hackshaw family was well-established in the county of Salop, also known as Shropshire. During this period, families often took their surnames from the land they occupied or the nearby natural landmarks that defined their local environment. As the family grew, they became part of the regional history of the West Midlands, maintaining a presence in the area for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haga and sceaga
Old English for an enclosure or hedge and a small wood.
This name
HackshawA topographical name for someone who lived near a hedged enclosure or wooded thicket.
also spelled
Haxhaw
Hackshew
Haxhawe
Related arms
Fletcherrecorded with Hackshaw, same area
Kennerecorded with Hackshaw, same area
Whiterecorded with Hackshaw, same area
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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1936
Shropshire Archives, Shropshire Parish Registers: Diocese of Lichfield, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
