A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hardacre family of England.
Reg. 3685 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
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. two boars' heads erased in chief ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hardacre Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hardacre arms are recorded
The Hardacre 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 Hardacre 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 Hardacre Family in England
The surname Hardacre is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is composed of two Old English elements: "heard," which means hard or firm, and "æcer," which refers to a field or a plot of land. This suggests that the first people to carry the name were likely farmers who worked on difficult or stubborn soil. By the year 1620, records confirm that the family had established a strong presence in the city of York. During this period, York was a major hub for trade and administration in Northern England. Families living there often played active roles in the local economy and community life. Over the centuries, the name remained tied to the landscape of the north, reflecting the practical and hardworking nature of those who first settled the fields of Yorkshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heard-aecer
Old English for a shepherd or herdsman and an acre of land.
This name
HardacreRefers to a person who lived on or worked a plot of land used for grazing livestock.
also spelled
Hardaker
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
The National Archives, Yorkshire Parish Registers, 1620
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boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
