A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hammerton family of Britain.
Reg. 2207 · Britain, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
hammerHonest labour, and the smith's craft
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à trois marteaux de sa. C.: un lévrier couché, au nat. D.: FIXUS ADVERSA SPERNO.”
YorkshireYorkshire, c. 1700
Where the Hammerton Arms Were Recorded
Yorkshire
Map of Britain showing where the Hammerton arms are recorded
The Hammerton arms were recorded in Yorkshire, c. 1700.
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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Hammerton arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Yorkshire.
Origin & History of the Hammerton Family in Britain
The surname Hammerton is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the Old English words "ham," meaning a homestead or village, and "tun," which refers to an enclosed piece of land or a farmstead. By the year 1700, the family was well-established in the West Riding of Yorkshire, a region known for its rolling hills and long history of sheep farming and textile production. During this period, families often took their surnames from the small hamlets where they lived and worked. The Hammertons were likely part of the rural gentry or prosperous tenant farmers who contributed to the local economy of the Yorkshire dales. As the family grew, they became deeply rooted in the social and agricultural life of Northern England, leaving behind records in parish registers that document their births, marriages, and daily lives in these historic communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hamerton
A settlement located near a stream or river.
This name
HammertonDerived from a place name in Yorkshire meaning a village by the river.
also spelled
Hammerton
Hamarton
Hamertoun
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1960
West Yorkshire Archive Service, West Yorkshire Parish Records, 1700
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hammerHonest labour, and the smith's craft
hammerHonest labour, and the smith's craft
