A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hanning family of England.
Reg. 2916 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. on a chief gu. three bucks' heads cabossed or”
SomersetDillington House · Somerset, c. 1620
Where the Hanning Arms Were Recorded
Somerset
Map of England showing where the Hanning arms are recorded
The Hanning arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Hanning 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Hanning Family in England
The surname Hanning is deeply rooted in the English county of Somerset, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a patronymic, meaning it was derived from the given name of an early ancestor, specifically a variation of the Old English name Hanning or Hanno. During the seventeenth century, families with this name were primarily involved in agriculture and local trade within the rural parishes of the West Country. As the family grew, they became integrated into the social fabric of the region, often appearing in local parish registers and land tax assessments. These early Hanning ancestors lived through a period of significant social change in England, and their presence in Somerset documents provides a clear link to the rural life and community structures of the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hanna
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for grace or favor.
This name
HanningA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Hanna or John.
also spelled
Hannyng
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Somerset Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
The National Archives, Protestation Returns of Somerset, 1641
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
