A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hawkings family of England.
Reg. 7882 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
Colours
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)
“Ar. a hawk ppr. beaked and legged or, standing on a trunk of a tree vert”
SalopSalop, c. 1620
Where the Hawkings Arms Were Recorded
Salop
Map of England showing where the Hawkings arms are recorded
The Hawkings arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1620.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Hawkings 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Hawkings Family in England
The surname Hawkings is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Hawk or Hawke. The name Hawk itself likely began as a nickname for a person who possessed sharp vision or a fierce, predatory nature similar to the bird of prey. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Salop, also known as Shropshire. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were living in this region, likely working as farmers or tradespeople in the rural landscape. During this period, families often stayed in the same geographic area for generations, which allowed the name to become firmly rooted in the local community. As the family grew, they contributed to the social and economic life of the English countryside, leaving behind a legacy that is still tied to the history of the West Midlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hafoc
An Old English word for a bird of prey or hawk.
This name
HawkingsA patronymic surname meaning son of the hawk, often used as a nickname for a predatory person.
also spelled
Hawkinges
Haukinges
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, 1958
Shropshire Archives, Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Visitation Records, 1620
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
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falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
