A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hanbury family of England.
Reg. 3136 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Or, a bend vert cotised sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hanbury Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hanbury arms are recorded
The Hanbury 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 Hanbury 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 Hanbury Family in England
The surname Hanbury is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from Old English words that describe a fortified enclosure or a protected settlement situated on high ground. 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 Hanbury family were living in this region, likely integrated into the urban life of a city that served as a major center for trade and administration in Northern England. During this period, families with this name were often involved in local commerce or civic duties, helping to build the social fabric of the city as it transitioned through the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hean-burh
Old English for high or elevated fortified settlement.
This name
HanburyRefers to a person who lived at or near a high-lying fortified town or manor.
also spelled
Hanbery
Hanburie
Related arms
Hamburyvariant spelling
Bollandrecorded with Hanbury, same area
Butterfieldrecorded with Hanbury, same area
Crowderrecorded with Hanbury, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
