A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hartgill family of England.
Reg. 8971 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. three bucks' heads cabossed sa”
SomersetKilmington · Somerset, c. 1620
Where the Hartgill Arms Were Recorded
Somerset
Map of England showing where the Hartgill arms are recorded
The Hartgill arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Hartgill 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Hartgill Family in England
The Hartgill family name has deep roots in the English county of Somerset, where records confirm their presence as early as the seventeenth century. The name itself is likely topographical in origin, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived near a "hart gill," which refers to a narrow valley or ravine frequented by stags. During the 1600s, families in this region were often tied to the land through farming or local trade, and the Hartgills were no exception to this rural way of life. As they established themselves in the Somerset countryside, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that track their growth over generations. This early history reflects the typical experience of English families who built their legacies through steady work and community involvement in the quiet villages of the West Country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heort and Gille
Old English for stag and a servant or young man.
This name
HartgillA topographical or occupational name denoting a servant who worked near a stag habitat.
also spelled
Hartgyl
Hartgylle
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Collinson, John, The History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset, 1791
Somerset Archives, Parish Register Transcripts for the Diocese of Bath and Wells, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
