A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hawker family of England.
Reg. 9659 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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. a cross vairé or and of the first betw. four mullets of the second pierced of the field”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hawker Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hawker arms are recorded
The Hawker 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 Hawker 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 Hawker Family in England
The surname Hawker is an occupational name that originated in medieval England to describe a person who worked as a falconer or a traveling merchant. During the Middle Ages, a "hawk" was a common term for a peddler who carried goods on their back to sell in local markets, while the term also referred to those who trained birds of prey for hunting. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had become a well-established surname passed down through generations. These early settlers in York likely lived during a time of significant transition, as the city served as a major hub for trade and commerce in Northern England. Because the name was tied to a specific trade, it suggests that the earliest ancestors were active participants in the local economy, moving between towns or working closely with the landed gentry who practiced falconry as a sport.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hauk
Old Norse word for a bird of prey or hawk.
This name
HawkerAn occupational surname for a traveling merchant or peddler who hawked goods.
also spelled
Hauker
Hawkerre
Related arms
Hackersimilar arms
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, Percy Hide, 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.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
