A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hebden family of England.
Reg. 5317 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Erm. on a chief az. three crescents or”
YorkEasthope Park · York, c. 1620
Where the Hebden Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hebden arms are recorded
The Hebden arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Hebden 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 York.
Origin & History of the Hebden Family in England
The surname Hebden is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the village of Hebden in the West Riding of Yorkshire, which sits in the scenic valley of Wharfedale. The name itself comes from the Old English words for "rose hip" and "valley," suggesting that the original settlers lived in a place where these wild plants grew in abundance. By the early 17th century, members of the family had moved from these rural roots into the bustling city of York. Records confirm their presence there by 1620, where they likely integrated into the city’s growing merchant and trade classes. As the family established themselves in urban environments, they carried the name of their ancestral home forward, preserving a link to the landscape of Northern England that dates back many centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heppeden
Old English words for rosehip and valley
This name
HebdenA habitational name referring to a valley where wild rosehips grow
also spelled
Hebdon
Hepden
Related arms
Hepdenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. 1960
Smith, A.H. The Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1961
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. York Diocesan Probate Records
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
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
