A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hamby family of England.
Reg. 4422 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
helmetWisdom and security in defence
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Az. three close helmets or”
LincolnLincoln, c. 1568
Where the Hamby Arms Were Recorded
Lincoln
Map of England showing where the Hamby arms are recorded
The Hamby arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1568.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Hamby 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 Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Hamby Family in England
The family name Hamby is rooted in the historic landscape of Lincolnshire, England, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1568. The name is classified as a locational surname, which means it likely originated from a specific place name rather than a trade or personal nickname. Linguists often link the name to the Old Norse word "ham," meaning a home or a village, combined with the suffix "by," which refers to a farmstead or settlement. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely residents of a small village or hamlet in the northern regions of England where Scandinavian influence was strong. Over time, as families moved away from their original homes to find work or land, they carried the name with them to identify their place of origin. By the late sixteenth century, the Hamby family had become a recognized part of the local community in Lincoln, leaving behind a trail of parish records that document their daily lives, marriages, and growth within the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hanebi
Old Norse for a village or homestead belonging to a man named Hani.
This name
HambyDerived from a locational surname referring to a specific settlement or farmstead.
also spelled
Hambey
Hambie
Related arms
Hambeyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
helmetWisdom and security in defence
helmetWisdom and security in defence
