A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hadwin family of England.
Reg. 4346 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 pale az. and sa. a stag's head caboshed ar. on a chief or, two setter dogs' heads erased respecting each other ppr”
YorkSowerby · York, c. 1620
Where the Hadwin Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hadwin arms are recorded
The Hadwin arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Hadwin 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 York.
Origin & History of the Hadwin Family in England
The surname Hadwin is rooted in the Old English language, likely originating from the personal name Hadewin, which combines elements meaning battle and friend. By the early seventeenth century, the family was well-established in the historic city of York, where records confirm their presence by 1620. During this period, York served as a vital center for trade and administration in Northern England, and families like the Hadwins often played active roles in the local merchant or craft guilds. As the name evolved over generations, it became a distinct marker of lineage for those living in the Yorkshire region. The family likely experienced the shifting social landscape of the seventeenth century, moving from traditional agricultural or trade-based lives toward the urban growth that defined the city during the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heahwine
Derived from Old English elements meaning high or chief and friend.
This name
HadwinA name signifying a noble or high-ranking friend.
also spelled
Hadwin
Hadwyn
Hadwinn
Hadwenne
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. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
