A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hargraves family of England.
Reg. 9848 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a fesse betw. three stags courant or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hargraves Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hargraves arms are recorded
The Hargraves 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 Hargraves 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 Hargraves Family in England
The surname Hargraves is of locational origin, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place rather than a trade or personal characteristic. The name is derived from the Old English words "har," meaning grey or hoary, and "graf," which refers to a grove or a wooded thicket. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a prominent, grey-colored woodland in Northern England. By the year 1620, records confirm that the family had established a notable presence in York. During this period, families in the region were often deeply connected to the local landscape, and the name served as a way to identify individuals based on the specific rural clearings or forests they inhabited. As the family grew, they became part of the social and economic fabric of York, contributing to the history of the city during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hargrave
A grove of trees located on a hare-frequented path or boundary.
This name
HargravesDerived from a locational surname referring to a wooded area inhabited by hares.
also spelled
Hargreaves
Hargravis
Related arms
Hargreavesvariant spelling
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, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
