A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hartshorne family of England.
Reg. 3361 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. a chev. gu. betw. three bucks' heads cabossed sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hartshorne Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hartshorne arms are recorded
The Hartshorne 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 Hartshorne 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 Hartshorne Family in England
The surname Hartshorne is a locational name that originated in England, specifically referring to a place where stags frequented a sharp bend in a river or a pointed piece of land. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Hartshorne family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, the family likely lived as part of the growing merchant or artisan class, as York served as a vital center for trade and administration in Northern England. The name itself reflects the rural roots of the family, as it combines the Old English words for a male deer and a horn-shaped landform. As the family grew, they moved beyond their original geographic ties, eventually carrying their name across the Atlantic to the American colonies. This transition marked the beginning of the family’s long history in the New World, where they continued to document their lives through local parish registers and legal records.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heort and Horn
Old English for stag or deer and a projecting piece of land.
This name
HartshorneA topographic name for someone living on a piece of land shaped like a stag's horn.
also spelled
Harteshorn
Harteshorne
Related arms
Harteshornvariant 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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
