Map of England showing where the Haws arms are recorded
The Haws 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 Haws 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 Haws Family in England
The family name Haws carries a long history rooted in the landscape of Northern England. The name is generally considered a topographical surname, which means it was originally given to people who lived near a prominent natural feature, such as a hawthorn hedge or a small hill known as a haw. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Haws family were well-established residents of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled crafts that supported the city. As these early ancestors moved through the narrow streets of the city, their name became a permanent marker of their identity within the community. Over time, the family name spread from these urban roots into the surrounding countryside, reflecting the steady growth and movement of families across the English landscape.
Haws Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Haga
Old English term for an enclosure, hedge, or hawthorn bush.
This name
HawsA topographic name for someone who lived near a hedge or an enclosure.
also spelled
Hawes
Haues
Hawsse
Hawe
Related arms
Hawessame arms
Hawevariant 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
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
