A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hamlin family of England.
Reg. 2887 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Gu. a lion ramp. erm. crowned with an antique crown or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hamlin Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hamlin arms are recorded
The Hamlin arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
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 Hamlin 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 England.
Origin & History of the Hamlin Family in England
The surname Hamlin has deep roots in the English landscape, originating as a patronymic name derived from the Old Germanic personal name Hamo. During the medieval period, the name evolved through various spellings as it spread across the British Isles. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Hamlin family were active participants in the civic and social life of this northern hub during a time of significant transition in England. These early ancestors were part of the generation that witnessed the growth of trade and the shifting political climate of the Stuart era, eventually laying the groundwork for the family name to expand across the Atlantic to the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hamelin
A diminutive form of the Germanic name Hamo meaning home.
This name
HamlinDerived from a Norman personal name meaning little home or little one.
also spelled
Hamlyn
Hamlen
Related arms
Hamlynvariant spelling
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., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York, Archbishop of York Diocesan Records
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
