A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hankford family of England.
Reg. 0427 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. a chev. barry nebulée ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hankford Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hankford arms are recorded
The Hankford 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 Hankford 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 Hankford Family in England
The family name Hankford finds its roots in the medieval landscape of England, where surnames often evolved from specific geographic locations or small settlements. 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 Hankford family were active participants in the civic and social life of this northern hub during a time of significant transition in English society. Because York served as a major center for trade and administration, the family likely integrated into the local economy through skilled labor or merchant activities. Over the following decades, the name became associated with the steady growth of families who helped shape the community identity of the region. This early residence in York suggests that the Hankfords were well-settled members of the local population long before the era of mass migration to the Americas.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hanga
Old Norse personal name meaning hook or hanger.
This name
HankfordA topographical surname referring to a ford located near a hook-shaped river bend or settlement.
also spelled
Hankeford
Hankeforde
Related arms
Felfordrecorded with Hankford, same area
Grandestonrecorded with Hankford, same area
Hauckfordrecorded with Hankford, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Collins, Francis, Register of the Freemen of the City of York, 1897
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
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