A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hearst family of England.
Reg. 1162 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. an estoile of sixteen points gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hearst Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hearst arms are recorded
The Hearst 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 Hearst 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 Hearst Family in England
The surname Hearst is believed to have originated in England as a locational name, likely derived from the Old English word "hyrst," which refers to a wooded hill or a thicket. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Hearst family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, families in northern England often lived in close-knit communities where their surnames were tied to the specific geography of their local landscape. As the family grew, they became part of the social and economic fabric of York, participating in the trades and civic life that defined the region during the early seventeenth century. This historical presence suggests that the Hearsts were settled residents who helped shape the local culture of the city long before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hyrst
Old English term referring to a wooded hill or thicket.
This name
HearstA topographic name for someone who lived near a wooded hill or a copse.
also spelled
Hurst
Hearst
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
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starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
