A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hathey family of England.
Reg. 2252 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
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)
“Sa. three birds ar. membered gu”
DevonDevon, c. 1620
Where the Hathey Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Hathey arms are recorded
The Hathey arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat of 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 Hathey 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Hathey Family in England
The family name Hathey has deep roots in the coastal county of Devon, England, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1620. During this period, Devon was a hub of maritime activity and agricultural development, which likely shaped the daily lives of the early Hathey family. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older English surnames derived from local geography or descriptive nicknames common in the West Country. Because the family was present in this region during the early seventeenth century, they were part of a society transitioning through significant social and economic changes. Many families in Devon at this time were involved in the wool trade or small-scale farming, providing a stable foundation for the Hathey name to persist through generations. By settling in this specific part of England, the early Hatheys became part of a long tradition of local history that defined the rural landscape of the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hath
Old English term referring to a heath or uncultivated open land.
This name
HatheyA topographical surname for someone who lived on or near a heath or moorland.
also spelled
Hathie
Hathay
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Hoskins, W. G., Devon, 1954
The National Archives, Parish registers for the Diocese of Exeter, 1620
Youings, Joyce, Devon Monastic Lands: Particulars of Grants 1536-1558, 1955
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martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
