A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hatchet family of England.
Reg. 2718 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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. nine annulets in saltire interlaced, five gu. and four az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hatchet Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hatchet arms are recorded
The Hatchet 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 Hatchet 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 Hatchet Family in England
The surname Hatchet likely originated as a descriptive occupational name during the Middle Ages in England. In those times, people were often identified by the tools they used or the work they performed, and a hatchet was a common implement for woodcutters and carpenters. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Hatchet family were well-established in the historic city of York. Living in such a prominent northern hub suggests that these early ancestors were likely involved in the active trade and craft industries that defined the city during the seventeenth century. As they navigated life in York, the family name became a permanent part of the local social fabric, reflecting a lineage rooted in the practical skills and labor that helped build early modern English towns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hache
Old French word for a battle axe or cutting tool.
This name
HatchetAn occupational surname for a person who made or used axes.
also spelled
Hachit
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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ringFidelity, and a promise kept
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
