A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hamill family of Ireland.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Az. two bars erm”
The Hamill arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Reigning in Ireland when the Hamill arms are first recorded.
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
The name Hamill is primarily associated with the northern regions of Ireland, particularly County Antrim and County Armagh, though its roots are deeply tied to the Gaelic surname Ó hAdhmaill. This name is derived from the word adhmall, which translates to active or quick. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Dublin, as evidenced by records from 1645. During this period of Irish history, many families were navigating the significant political and social shifts caused by the Cromwellian conquest. The Hamills were part of a broader movement of people who moved between the rural northern provinces and the growing urban center of Dublin to engage in trade and civic life. Over time, the name evolved from its original Gaelic form into the anglicized version used today, reflecting the linguistic changes occurring across Ireland during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Derived from the Gaelic word adhmall meaning active or swift.
