Map of England showing where the Harry arms are recorded
The Harry arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1620.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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 Harry 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Harry Family in England
The surname Harry originates as a patronymic name, meaning it was derived from the given name of a male ancestor. In the Middle Ages, it functioned as a common vernacular form of the name Henry, which was brought to Britain following the Norman Conquest. By the early 17th century, the name had become firmly established in the border regions of England and Wales. Records confirm that members of the Harry family were living in the city of Hereford by 1620. During this period, families often settled in market towns like Hereford to participate in the growing trade and agricultural networks of the West Midlands. As the name passed from generation to generation, it evolved from a simple identifier of a father into a permanent family surname that linked these early residents to their ancestral roots.
Harry Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Henry
Derived from the Germanic name Heimirich meaning home ruler.
This name
HarryAn English patronymic surname meaning son of Henry or home ruler.
also spelled
Harrie
Harrey
Haris
Harries
Harris
Related arms
Harisvariant spelling
Harriesvariant spelling
Harrisvariant spelling
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
Herefordshire Archives, Hereford City Council 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
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
