A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Haswell family of Scotland.
Reg. 3765 · Scottish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
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)
“Per fesse dancettée sa. and ar. in chief three mullets, and in base a boar's head couped all counterchanged”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Haswell Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Haswell arms are recorded
The Haswell arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Scotland when the Haswell arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Haswell Family in Scotland
The surname Haswell is a locational name, which means it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a nickname. It is derived from the Old English words "hæsel," meaning hazel tree, and "wella," meaning a spring or stream. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family lived near a prominent hazel-lined water source in Northern England or the Scottish Borders. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a notable presence in Edinburgh, as evidenced by records from 1748. During this time, members of the family were integrated into the urban life of Scotland’s capital, likely participating in the city’s growing trade and professional sectors during the Scottish Enlightenment. As the family moved northward from the border regions, they carried this ancient name into the heart of Scottish history, where it became firmly rooted in the local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haes-wella
Old English for a hazel tree near a spring or stream.
This name
HaswellDerived from a location in the Scottish Borders, referring to a spring surrounded by hazel trees.
also spelled
Hasewelle
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh Register of Testaments, 1748
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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
