A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hawksworth family of England.
Reg. 1532 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
Colours
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)
“Sa. three falcons close ar. beaks and bells or”
YorkYork, c. 1620
Where the Hawksworth Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hawksworth arms are recorded
The Hawksworth arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Hawksworth 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 York.
Origin & History of the Hawksworth Family in England
The surname Hawksworth is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal nickname. It is derived from the Old English words "hafoc," meaning hawk, and "worth," which refers to an enclosed homestead or a piece of land. By the early seventeenth century, members of the Hawksworth family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major northern hub for trade and administration, and families with established names often held roles in local governance or the merchant guilds. The name suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors likely lived on or managed a specific plot of land where hawks were either trained or frequently seen, eventually adopting that location as their permanent family identifier as they moved into urban centers like York.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hafoc and weorth
Old English for hawk and an enclosure or homestead.
This name
HawksworthRefers to a person who lived at an enclosure or settlement frequented by hawks.
also spelled
Hawkesworth
Hauksworth
Related arms
Hawkesworthvariant spelling
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
Smith, Albert Hugh, The Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire, 1961
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 1620
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falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
