Map of England showing where the Hemming arms are recorded
The Hemming arms were recorded in Worcester, c. 1620.
Worcestershire was orchard and farming country with a scattering of old manors. Its gentry were middling rather than great, but a manor was a manor, and holding one was what brought 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 Hemming 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 Worcester.
Origin & History of the Hemming Family in England
The surname Hemming is rooted in ancient Germanic and Old Norse naming traditions, originating from the personal name Hemmingr, which likely meant one who is a shapeshifter or a protector. By the time the name became established in England, it was primarily concentrated in the West Midlands, particularly around the historic city of Worcester. Records confirm that members of the Hemming family were well-established residents of Worcester by 1620, where they often worked as skilled tradespeople or local landowners. The family name evolved from these early personal identifiers into a hereditary surname as record-keeping practices became more standardized in parish registers during the seventeenth century. Because the name was tied to specific geographic regions, families with this name often maintained strong local connections to the Worcestershire area for many generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hamma
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for home or hamlet.
This name
HemmingA patronymic surname meaning son of the man from the homestead or village.
also spelled
Heminge
Related arms
Hemingevariant spelling
Cookesrecorded with Hemming, same area
Lutmanrecorded with Hemming, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, Parish Registers of the Diocese of Worcester, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ostrichWilling obedience and serious thought
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
lionCourage, strength and royalty
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
ostrichWilling obedience and serious thought
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
lionCourage, strength and royalty
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
