Map of Ireland showing where the Handsaker arms are recorded
The Handsaker arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1604.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Ireland when the Handsaker arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Handsaker Family in Ireland
The family name Handsaker is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Dublin, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1604. During this period, Dublin was a bustling center of trade and political change, serving as a gateway between Ireland and the wider world. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive occupational or topographical surname, reflecting the practical lives of those who first carried it. Families in early seventeenth-century Dublin often lived in close-knit communities near the city walls or along the River Liffey, where they participated in the local economy as merchants, craftsmen, or laborers. By establishing themselves in the capital during the early 1600s, the Handsaker family became part of the complex social fabric that defined Ireland’s urban history during a time of significant transition.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hand-saker
A person who acts as a legal advocate or prosecutor.
This name
HandsakerAn occupational surname for a legal representative or someone who brings a lawsuit.
also spelled
Hansard
Hansarde
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Archives of Ireland, Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls or Proceedings in the Court of the Justiciar of Ireland (1905)
Dublin City Archives, The Ancient Records of Dublin (1889)
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland (1985)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
