Map of England showing where the Hele arms are recorded
The Hele arms were recorded in Dorset, c. 1620.
Dorset was quiet farming and grazing country along the south coast. Its gentry were middling rather than grand, but they held their manors for a very long time, and long holding is what puts a name in the records.
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 Hele 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 Dorset.
Origin & History of the Hele Family in England
The surname Hele is deeply rooted in the history of southwestern England, with its origins tied to the landscape itself. The name is topographical, meaning it was likely given to people who lived near a "hele," an Old English term referring to a hidden place, a nook, or a sheltered valley. By the early 17th century, the family had established a firm presence in Dorset, where they were integrated into the local community and social structure. During this period, families often lived on the same land for generations, working as farmers or tradespeople who were essential to the rural economy. The movement of the family within Dorset reflects the broader patterns of migration and settlement that defined the English countryside during the reign of King James I. As the family grew, they became a recognized part of the regional identity, leaving behind records of their daily lives, property ownership, and local contributions that persist in historical archives today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hel
Old English word for a hollow, nook, or hidden place.
This name
HeleA topographical name for someone who lived in a secluded valley or hollow.
also spelled
Helles
Related arms
Healevariant spelling
Hellesvariant spelling
Reederecorded with Hele, same area
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
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Dorset History Centre, Dorset Quarter Sessions Records, Q/SR
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
