A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hawtin family of England.
Reg. 4201 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
horseReadiness to serve king and country
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Or, on a fess cotised gu. betw. three asses' heads erased sa. a unicorn courant ar”
OxfordThe Ley · Oxford, c. 1574
Where the Hawtin Arms Were Recorded
Oxford
Map of England showing where the Hawtin arms are recorded
The Hawtin arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1574.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Hawtin 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Hawtin Family in England
The surname Hawtin has deep roots in the English county of Oxfordshire, where records confirm the family was well established by the late sixteenth century. The name is generally considered a variation of the Middle English term "halting," which may have originally served as a descriptive nickname for a person with a distinct way of walking or a physical limp. By 1574, members of the Hawtin family were active participants in the local community of Oxford, appearing in parish registers and legal documents from that era. During this period, the family lived through a time of significant social change as the city grew into a major hub for trade and education. These early ancestors were likely tradespeople or laborers who helped shape the local economy of the region. Their presence in the city records provides a clear link to the medieval origins of the name and shows how the family became a permanent part of the history of Oxfordshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haltun
Old English words for a hollow or valley and a farmstead.
This name
HawtinA habitational name referring to someone who lived at a farmstead located in a hollow or valley.
also spelled
Hautayne
Hawten
Hawtin
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Oxfordshire History Centre, Diocese of Oxford Parish Records, 1574
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
horseReadiness to serve king and country
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
horseReadiness to serve king and country
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
