A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harland family of England.
Reg. 4293 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Or, on a bend wavy betw. two sea-lions sa. three bucks' heads cabossed ar”
SuffolkSproughton · Suffolk, c. 1620
Where the Harland Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Harland arms are recorded
The Harland arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Harland 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Harland Family in England
The surname Harland is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a locative name for people who lived near a "hare land" or a piece of ground frequented by hares. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Suffolk, where they were integrated into the local agricultural and social fabric. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Harland family were active in this region during a time of significant transition in English history. These early ancestors were likely yeoman farmers or tradespeople who helped shape the rural character of East Anglia. Over time, the name spread from these localized roots as family members moved to find new opportunities, yet the connection to the Suffolk countryside remains a defining chapter in their ancestral story.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hara and land
Old English for a grey or hare-colored piece of land.
This name
HarlandDerived from a topographic location referring to a grey-colored meadow or hare-infested land.
also spelled
Harlond
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Suffolk Archives, Ipswich 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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
