A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hawkey family of England.
Reg. 7140 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
plant thistleDefiance, and the defence of Scotland
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. three thistles or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hawkey Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hawkey arms are recorded
The Hawkey 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 Hawkey 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 Hawkey Family in England
The surname Hawkey is rooted in the linguistic traditions of medieval England, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a variation of a given name. Etymologists often link the name to the Middle English word "hawk," suggesting that early ancestors may have been associated with falconry or possessed traits reminiscent of the bird of prey. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Hawkey family were active participants in the local community during this period, which was a time of significant social and economic change in Northern England. As these early settlers navigated life in a bustling cathedral city, they helped solidify the name within the regional landscape, leaving behind a legacy that persists through the generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hauk
Old Norse word for a bird of prey or hawk.
This name
HawkeyA topographical or occupational name referring to someone who kept hawks or lived near a hawk-frequented area.
also spelled
Hawkie
Haukey
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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plant thistleDefiance, and the defence of Scotland
plant thistleDefiance, and the defence of Scotland
