Map of England showing where the Hatchett arms are recorded
The Hatchett 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 Hatchett 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 Hatchett Family in England
The surname Hatchett is rooted in the occupational traditions of medieval England, likely originating as a nickname for a person who worked as a woodcutter or a maker of small axes. The name is derived from the Old French word hache, which refers to a battle-axe or a chopping tool. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had become a stable hereditary surname passed down through generations. During this period, families in northern England often lived in close-knit communities where trade skills defined their social standing. The presence of the Hatchett name in York suggests that these early ancestors were likely established tradespeople or laborers who contributed to the local economy of the city during the early seventeenth century. As the family grew, they moved through the social structures of the time, leaving behind records in parish registers and local administrative documents that track their movement and daily lives.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hache
Old French word for a small axe or battle axe.
This name
HatchettAn occupational name for a maker or user of hatchets.
also spelled
Hachit
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate 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.
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
