A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hathorne family of England.
Reg. 6979 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Or, on a bend sa. three mullets ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hathorne Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hathorne arms are recorded
The Hathorne 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 Hathorne 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 Hathorne Family in England
The surname Hathorne is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people who lived near a hawthorn hedge or a prominent hawthorn tree. In the early seventeenth century, the name was firmly rooted in the northern English city of York. Records confirm that members of the Hathorne family were active in this region by 1620, living during a time of significant social and religious change in England. As the name spread, it evolved through various spellings, including Hawthorne and Hathorn, reflecting the way names were recorded by ear in parish registers. The family’s presence in York suggests they were part of the local merchant or tradesman class, helping to establish the name’s long history before some members eventually traveled across the Atlantic to the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haguthorn
Old English terms for a hedge and a thorny bush.
This name
HathorneA topographical name for someone who lived near a prominent hawthorn tree or hedge.
also spelled
Hawthorne
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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
