A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Halstead family of Britain.
Reg. 3971 · Britain, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 fasce engr. de sa., acc. de trois quintefeuilles du même; à la bord. du sec. C.: un lion ramp. d'arg., tenant entre ses pattes un écusson des armes.”
KentKent, c. 1767
Where the Halstead Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Halstead arms are recorded
The Halstead arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1767.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in Britain when the Halstead arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Halstead Family in Britain
The surname Halstead is of Old English origin and is classified as a locational name, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place. The name is derived from the words "halh," which refers to a nook or a corner of land, and "stede," which means a place or a farmstead. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family were likely people who lived on or managed a small, secluded piece of land. By the year 1767, records confirm that members of the Halstead family were well-established in the county of Kent. During this era, families often stayed within the same region for generations, working in local trades or agriculture. Because the name describes a physical landscape, it likely emerged independently in several different parts of England before the family eventually put down roots in the Kentish countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heald-stede
Old English terms for a nook or corner and a place.
This name
HalsteadRefers to a person who lived at a homestead located in a sheltered nook.
also spelled
Foley
Halstead
Foley de Halsted
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1998
Kent Archives, Parish Registers of Kent, 1767
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
