A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hardaker family of England.
Reg. 5852 · 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 Hardaker Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hardaker arms are recorded
The Hardaker 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 Hardaker 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 Hardaker Family in England
The surname Hardaker is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the Old English words "heard," meaning hard or firm, and "aker," which refers to a field or an acre of land. This suggests that the first people to use the name were likely farmers who lived on a particularly difficult or stony piece of ground. By the year 1620, the family was well-established in the region of York, where they were integrated into the local community. During this period, the name was often recorded in parish registers as families began to settle into more permanent roles within the northern English landscape. The name reflects the rugged nature of the Yorkshire terrain and the resilient spirit of the ancestors who cultivated the land centuries ago.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heard-acra
A shepherd's field or a hard, stony piece of cultivated land.
This name
HardakerDerived from a locative surname referring to someone living near a shepherd's field or stony acre.
also spelled
Hardaker
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Smith, Albert Hugh, The Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire, 1961
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Parish Register Transcripts for the Diocese of York, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
