A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hawes family of England.
Reg. 9386 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Purple (Purpure)Means: Royal majesty
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)
“Az. on a chev. or, three cinquefoils pierced purp. a canton erm”
Englandc. 1568
Where the Hawes Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hawes arms are recorded
The Hawes arms were recorded in England, c. 1568.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Hawes 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 Hawes Family in England
The surname Hawes is rooted in the landscape of medieval England and likely describes the place where an early ancestor lived. The name is derived from the Old English word "haga," which referred to a hedge, a fenced enclosure, or a piece of land surrounded by a hawthorn thicket. People who lived near such a boundary or within a small enclosed field often adopted this term as a way to identify themselves to their neighbors. By the time the family was firmly established in York in 1568, the name had evolved from a simple geographical description into a permanent hereditary surname. During this period, the Hawes family in York were part of a growing urban middle class that benefited from the city’s role as a major center for trade and administration. As the family settled into city life, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving behind records in parish registers and legal documents that track their presence through the generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haga
An Old English or Old Norse term for a hedge or enclosure.
This name
HawesA topographical name for someone who lived near a hedge, enclosure, or hawthorn thicket.
also spelled
Hawis
Hawys
Related arms
Hawssame arms
Haweisvariant spelling
Castlemanrecorded with Hawes, same area
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, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
York City Archives, City of York House Books
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cinquefoilHope and joy
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cinquefoilHope and joy
