A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hanmer family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2676 · Welsh, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. two lions pass. guard. az. armed and langued gu”
Walesc. 1647
Where the Hanmer Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Hanmer arms are recorded
The Hanmer arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat 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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Wales when the Hanmer arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Wales.
Origin & History of the Hanmer Family in Wales
The family name Hanmer is deeply rooted in the history of North Wales, particularly within the borderlands of the Maelor region. While the name is famously associated with the village of Hanmer in Flintshire, the family expanded their influence across the Welsh landscape over many centuries. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family had established a notable presence in Denbigh, as evidenced by records from 1647. During this era, the family played an active role in local administration and land management, which helped them maintain their social standing during a time of significant political upheaval in Britain. Their history reflects the broader movement of Welsh gentry families who navigated the changing legal and social structures of the seventeenth century while remaining connected to their ancestral lands.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
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. three goats pass. ar”
SalopElweny Maptis · Salop, c. 1620
Where the Hanmer Arms Were Recorded
Salop
Map of England showing where the Hanmer arms are recorded
The Hanmer arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1620.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Wales when the Hanmer 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Hanmer Family in England
The family name Hanmer originates from a place name in the historic county of Flintshire, situated along the border between Wales and England. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established a notable presence in the neighboring English county of Salop, also known as Shropshire. During this period, families often took their surnames from the specific villages or manors where they held land or resided for generations. As the family moved eastward into the English Midlands, they became part of the local gentry, often serving in administrative or legal roles within their communities. Their migration reflected the broader movement of families across the Welsh Marches, where cultural and social ties between the two regions were deeply intertwined. By 1620, the Hanmer name was well-integrated into the social fabric of Salop, marking a transition from their ancestral roots in the borderlands to a settled life within the English county system.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hafod-mer
A summer dwelling or pasture located near a boundary or sea.
This name
HanmerRefers to a person residing at a summer farmstead situated near the border of Flintshire.
also spelled
Hannmer
Hanmere
Hanmmer
Hanmar
Related arms
Hamnervariant spelling
Bevershamrecorded with Hanmer, same area
Stanneyrecorded with Hanmer, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bartrum, Peter C., Welsh Genealogies AD 300–1400, 1974
Lloyd, John Edward, A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest, 1911
Roberts, Enid Pierce, Tai Mawr a'u Teuluoedd, 1975
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1647
National Library of Wales, Hanmer of Hanmer Papers, Series 1–4
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
