A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hankins family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0136 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec., d'arg. à un arbre terrassé de sin., et d'or plein; à la fasce d'azur, br. sur écartelé et ch. à dextre d'un croiss. cont. d'arg. et à sen. d'une étoile du même.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Hankins Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Hankins arms are recorded
The Hankins arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Hankins Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Hankins arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Hankins Family in Netherlands
The family name Hankins, while often associated with English origins, has a distinct historical presence in the Netherlands, particularly within the northern province of Friesland. By the early 19th century, records confirm that members of the family were established in this region, which was then undergoing significant social and administrative changes following the Napoleonic era. In 1811, the Dutch government mandated that all citizens adopt formal, permanent surnames to improve tax collection and military conscription, a process that solidified the spelling and usage of family names across the country. Families living in Friesland during this time often navigated a unique cultural landscape where the Frisian language and local customs remained strong despite the influence of the central Dutch state. The presence of the Hankins name in these official records from 1815 suggests that the family was well-integrated into the local community, likely participating in the agricultural or maritime trades that defined the Frisian economy during the post-Napoleonic period.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
vairProtection, and the winter fur
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, or, a lion pass. gu. in base three bars wavy sa. on a chief az. three bezants, for HANKINS; 2nd and 3rd, gu. a fesse vair betw. three pelicans' heads erased or, for MACHEN”
GloucesterGreenhouse · Gloucester, c. 1620
Where the Hankins Arms Were Recorded
Gloucester
Map of England showing where the Hankins arms are recorded
The Hankins arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
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 Netherlands when the Hankins 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 Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Hankins Family in England
The name Hankins is a patronymic surname, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Hankin. The name Hankin itself began as a diminutive form of the name John, created by adding the suffix "kin" to the name to signify a younger or smaller version of the person. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Gloucestershire. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Hankins family were active in this region during a time of significant social and economic change in England. As the practice of using hereditary surnames became standard across the country, families like the Hankinses helped shape the local communities of the West Country through their involvement in trade, agriculture, and parish life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Johannes
God is gracious
This name
HankinsA patronymic surname meaning son of little John or son of Hank.
also spelled
Hankyns
Hankin
Related arms
Cruxrecorded with Hankins, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (1811–1950)
Nationaal Archief, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand (1811–1815)
Fokko, Jan, De invoering van de burgerlijke stand in Nederland (1987)
Grietman, S., Geschiedenis van Friesland: 1750–1850 (1995)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
