A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heather family of England.
Reg. 9799 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Paly of six az. and or, on a chief of the second a fesse dancettée gu”
SurreySurrey, c. 1620
Where the Heather Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Heather arms are recorded
The Heather arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 Heather 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Heather Family in England
The family name Heather is a locative surname, meaning it likely originated from a person’s association with a specific place or a landscape feature. In the case of this name, it is rooted in the Old English word *hæð*, which refers to the hardy, flowering shrub that thrives on open, uncultivated land. By the early 17th century, the family was firmly established in the county of Surrey, where the rolling hills and heathlands provided a natural environment that mirrored their name. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this region, suggesting that early ancestors were likely farmers or laborers who lived near these distinct patches of moorland. Over time, the name became a way to identify individuals based on their proximity to these rugged, purple-blooming fields, cementing the family’s deep connection to the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haeth
Old English term for uncultivated land or open wasteland.
This name
HeatherA topographic name for someone who lived on or near a heath or moorland.
also spelled
Hether
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
Surrey History Centre, Parish Registers of Surrey, 1620
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
