A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harlow family of England.
Reg. 0594 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
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. three inescutcheons ar. on each a lion ramp. gu”
EssexEssex, c. 1620
Where the Harlow Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Harlow arms are recorded
The Harlow arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Harlow 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Harlow Family in England
The family name Harlow originates from the county of Essex in England, where it is tied to the ancient town of the same name. The name itself is derived from Old English words that describe a rocky hill or a temple clearing, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived near a prominent geographical landmark. By the year 1620, the family had established deep roots within this region, living as part of the local community long before some members began to migrate across the Atlantic. These early generations were likely involved in agriculture or local trade, which was typical for families settled in the English countryside during the seventeenth century. Because the name is locational, it reflects a time when people were often identified by the specific village or landscape feature where they resided. This connection to the land in Essex remains the defining chapter of the family history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Here-hlaw
Derived from Old English words for army or host and hill.
This name
HarlowRefers to a rocky hill or mound associated with a military gathering place.
also spelled
Harlawe
Related arms
Harlawvariant spelling
Brandrecorded with Harlow, same area
Cardrecorded with Harlow, same area
Colchesterrecorded with Harlow, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1991
Essex Record Office, Parish Registers of Harlow, 1620
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escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
