A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hamson family of England.
Reg. 5529 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Erm. a saltire chequy or and gu. betw. four bezants”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hamson Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hamson arms are recorded
The Hamson 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 Hamson 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 Hamson Family in England
The surname Hamson is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of a man named Ham. The name Ham itself was a common short form of the Old English name Hamo or the Germanic name Haimo, both of which were popular in England following the Norman Conquest. 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 Hamson family were living and working within this northern hub, likely participating in the vibrant trade and civic life that defined the city during the Stuart period. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of the region while carrying a name that linked them back to their medieval ancestors.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hamo
A Germanic personal name derived from the element haim meaning home.
This name
HamsonA patronymic surname meaning son of Hamo or son of the home ruler.
also spelled
Hamston
Hamson
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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
