A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hanlan family of Britain.
Reg. 5502 · Britain, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sin. à un sanglier pass. d'herm., posé sur une colline du même. C.: un lézard, en pal, soutenu d'un tertre, le tout au nat.”
Britainc. 1700
Where the Hanlan Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Hanlan arms are recorded
The Hanlan arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Hanlan arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Hanlan Family in Britain
The family name Hanlan has deep roots in the historical landscape of Kent, England, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as the year 1700. During this period, Kent was a vital region known for its agricultural output and its proximity to the trade routes of the English Channel. Families like the Hanlans often lived in small rural parishes, where they worked as skilled laborers, farmers, or tradespeople. Life in eighteenth-century Kent was defined by the rhythm of the seasons and the local church, which served as the primary center for recording births, marriages, and deaths. While the specific origins of the name may be linked to older Gaelic or Anglo-Saxon roots, the presence of the Hanlan family in Kent suggests they were part of the hardworking population that helped shape the local economy and community life during the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
O hAnluain
Descendant of the champion or hero
This name
HanlanAn anglicized form of an Irish Gaelic surname denoting a heroic or champion-like lineage.
also spelled
Hanlan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Everitt, Alan, Continuity and Colonization: The Evolution of Kentish Settlement, 1986
Kent History and Library Centre, Parish Registers of Kent, 1700–1750
Thirsk, Joan, The Rural Economy of England, 1984
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
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
