A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hanger family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7966 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'herm. à un griffon coupé d'or sur azur. C.: un griffon iss. d'or. D.: ARTES HONORABIT.”
Francec. 1824
Where the Hanger Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Hanger arms are recorded
The Hanger arms were recorded in France, c. 1824.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Charles X of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles X of France
1824–1830
Reigning in France when the Hanger arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Hanger Family in France
The history of the Hanger family in France is deeply rooted in the rugged landscape of Bretagne, where records confirm their presence by the early nineteenth century. During this era, families in the region were often defined by their connection to the land and the specific trades they practiced within their local parishes. The name itself likely evolved from regional dialects or occupational descriptions common to the coastal and rural communities of western France. As the family established itself in Bretagne, they became part of the social fabric of a province known for its distinct cultural identity and strong traditions. By 1824, the Hanger name was already integrated into the administrative life of the region, reflecting a history of settlement that predates the modern era. This early documentation serves as a vital link to understanding how the family navigated the shifting political and social landscapes of nineteenth-century France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 griffin segreant per fesse or and az”
Englandc. 1762
Where the Hanger Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hanger arms are recorded
The Hanger arms were recorded in England, c. 1762.
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.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in France when the Hanger 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 Hanger Family in England
The surname Hanger is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a topographic name for someone who lived near a wooded slope or a hanging wood. The term itself is derived from the Old English word hangra, which described a wooded hillside or a steep bank. By the time the family was firmly established in York during the mid-eighteenth century, the name had already been in use for several generations across various English counties. Families carrying this name often lived in rural areas where they worked as farmers or laborers, eventually migrating into growing urban centers like York as the Industrial Revolution began to shift the population. While the name was never tied to a single noble house, it represents the common history of English families who took their identity from the specific geography of the land they inhabited.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hangre
Old French term referring to a person who is thin or gaunt.
This name
HangerA descriptive nickname for an individual with a lean or slender physical build.
also spelled
Hangere
Hangerr
Hangre
Related arms
Hangrevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, État civil, 1824
Archives départementales du Finistère, Recensement de la population, 1824
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griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
