A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hamelton family of England.
Reg. 8314 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. fretty and the field replenished with fleurs-de-lis gu”
SuffolkSuffolk, c. 1620
Where the Hamelton Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Hamelton arms are recorded
The Hamelton arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Hamelton 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Hamelton Family in England
The family name Hamelton is a variant of the more common surname Hamilton, which originated as a locative name in Scotland. It was typically given to people who lived in a place called Hamilton in Lanarkshire. By the early 17th century, members of the family had moved south and established roots in England. Records confirm that individuals bearing this name were living in the county of Suffolk by 1620. During this period, families often moved to follow new economic opportunities or to settle in growing agricultural communities. These early settlers in Suffolk likely worked as farmers or tradespeople, helping to build the local economy of the region during the reign of King James I. Their presence in the area shows how the family name spread from its northern origins into the heart of rural England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hameldun
A crooked or bent hill
This name
HameltonDerived from an Old English place name referring to a settlement on a crooked hill.
also spelled
Hamylton
Hambleton
Hameldon
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Suffolk Archives, Ipswich Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
