A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hazelhurst family of Britain.
Reg. 5777 · Britain, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
owlWisdom and vigilance by night
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au chev. de gu., ch. de trois los. d'or et acc. de trois hiboux de sa.; au chef d'azur, ch. de trois branches de laurier d'arg. C.: un écureuil tenant une branche de noisetier fruitée, le tout au nat.”
Britainc. 1700
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Map of Britain showing where the Hazelhurst arms are recorded
The Hazelhurst arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Hazelhurst arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Hazelhurst Family in Britain
The surname Hazelhurst is a topographical name, which means it was originally used to describe the specific landscape where a family lived. The name is derived from the Old English words "hæsel," meaning a hazel tree, and "hyrst," which refers to a wooded hill or a thicket. By the year 1700, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Kent. During this period, the region was known for its dense forests and rolling countryside, making the name a perfect description for those who resided near hazel-covered hills. As the family grew, they became part of the local agricultural and social fabric of southeastern England, passing the name down through generations as a reflection of their ancestral connection to the land.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haesel and Hyrst
Old English terms for a hazel tree and a wooded hill.
This name
HazelhurstA habitational name referring to a wooded hill where hazel trees grow.
also spelled
Haslehurst
Hazelhurst
Hazleherst
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1936
Kent Archives, Quarter Sessions Records: Q/S, 1700
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