A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hammersley family of England.
Reg. 0001 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ramLeadership and authority
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. three rams' heads couped or”
EnglandPall Mall, c. 1620
Where the Hammersley Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hammersley arms are recorded
The Hammersley arms were recorded in Pall Mall, 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 Hammersley 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 Hammersley Family in England
The family name Hammersley is a locational surname that originated in England, specifically tied to the county of Staffordshire. The name is derived from the Old English words for a clearing or meadow belonging to a man named Hamel. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established themselves in the historic city of York. Records confirm their presence there by 1620, suggesting that the family had moved from their rural origins to participate in the growing urban economy of northern England. During this period, the Hammersleys were likely involved in trade or craft guilds, which were the primary way for families to gain status and stability in a bustling city like York. As they settled into city life, the family became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of the region during the transition into the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hamersley
A clearing or meadow belonging to a man named Hamer.
This name
HammersleyDerived from a locational surname referring to a woodland clearing in Staffordshire.
also spelled
Hamersly
Hamersleigh
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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ramLeadership and authority
ramLeadership and authority
