A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hampstead family of England.
Reg. 4866 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 bend chequy or and az”
NorfolkNorfolk, c. 1620
Where the Hampstead Arms Were Recorded
Norfolk
Map of England showing where the Hampstead arms are recorded
The Hampstead arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Hampstead 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Hampstead Family in England
The surname Hampstead is a locational name, meaning it originated from people who lived in or near a place called Hampstead. The name itself comes from the Old English words "ham," meaning a homestead or village, and "stede," meaning a place. By the early 17th century, members of the family were firmly established in the county of Norfolk. During this period, Norfolk was a center of agricultural trade and textile production, which likely provided the economic foundation for families living in the region. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this area, suggesting that the family had already been settled in the English countryside for generations before the migration patterns of the colonial era began to shift the population. These early ancestors were likely part of the local rural community, living through a time of significant social and economic change in East Anglia.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ham and Stede
Old English for a homestead, settlement, or enclosed place.
This name
HampsteadRefers to a person who lived at or near a village or homestead.
also spelled
Hampstead
Hamsted
Hamstead
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Registers of Norfolk, 1538–1900
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
