Map of England showing where the Hellings arms are recorded
The Hellings arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1620.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Hellings 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Hellings Family in England
The family name Hellings is rooted in the historic landscape of England, with records confirming that members of the family were well-established in the county of Salop, also known as Shropshire, by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a patronymic, meaning it was derived from the given name of an early ancestor, possibly a variation of the name Helling or Hellinge. During the seventeenth century, families in this region were often tied to the land through farming or local trades, contributing to the growth of rural communities in the West Midlands. As the family settled in Salop, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving traces in parish registers and legal documents that track their movement and growth over the following generations. By studying these early records, we can see how the family name persisted through centuries of social and economic change in the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Helle
Old English word for a hill or a slope.
This name
HellingsA patronymic surname indicating a descendant of someone who lived on or near a hill.
also spelled
Hellens
Hellings
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Eyton, Robert W., Antiquities of Shropshire, 1854
Shropshire Archives, Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry: Parish Registers for the County of Salop, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
