A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hammock family of England.
Reg. 0198 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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. a cross gu. betw. four mullets pierced of the second”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hammock Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hammock arms are recorded
The Hammock 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 Hammock 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 Hammock Family in England
The surname Hammock is believed to have originated in England, where it functioned as a topographical name for people who lived near a specific type of sheltered or enclosed piece of land. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Hammock family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and administration, and families living there were often involved in the local merchant guilds or agricultural management of the surrounding countryside. As the seventeenth century progressed, the name began to appear in various parish registers, which tracked the births, marriages, and deaths of local residents. These early ancestors were part of a society that was rapidly changing, and their presence in a significant city like York suggests they were integrated into the professional and social life of the region before many family members eventually migrated to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hamm
Old English word for a meadow or enclosure near a river.
This name
HammockA topographic name for someone who lived near a river meadow or enclosed land.
also spelled
Hamock
Hammock
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
