A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hayward family of England.
Reg. 6479 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bullValour and generosity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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, a bull's head betw. three mullets gu. on a chief sa. a lion pass. erm. betw. two crosses crosslet fitchée of the field”
SalopActon Round · Salop, c. 1560
Where the Hayward Arms Were Recorded
Salop
Map of England showing where the Hayward arms are recorded
The Hayward arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1560.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Hayward 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 Hayward Family in England
The surname Hayward originated in England as an occupational name for a person responsible for maintaining the hedges and fences that protected village crops from wandering livestock. The word comes from the Old English terms "heg," meaning hedge, and "ward," meaning guardian or keeper. By the time the family was firmly established in the county of Salop, now known as Shropshire, in 1560, the name had become a common way to identify individuals who held this important role in the local agricultural community. Because these keepers were essential to the survival of communal farming, the name spread throughout the English countryside as families moved and settled in new parishes. Over many generations, the name evolved from a job description into a permanent family identifier that was passed down from parents to their children.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heg-weard
Old English terms for a hedge or enclosure and a guardian.
This name
HaywardAn official responsible for maintaining hedges and protecting common land from straying livestock.
also spelled
Heyward
Haward
Related arms
Hawardvariant spelling
Haywoodvariant spelling
Heywardvariant spelling
Heywardevariant 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., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Shropshire Archives, Shropshire Parish Registers, Diocese of Lichfield, 1560
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bullValour and generosity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bullValour and generosity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
