Map of England showing where the Henington arms are recorded
The Henington arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
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 Henington 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 England.
Origin & History of the Henington Family in England
The family name Henington is rooted in the geography of medieval England, likely originating as a topographic surname for people who lived near a specific meadow or enclosure. The suffix "ton" is an Old English term for a town or settlement, suggesting that the earliest ancestors were associated with a particular homestead. By 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Henington family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, and families living there were often involved in the city’s guilds or local commerce. These early Heningtons were part of the social fabric of a city recovering from the tensions of the Elizabethan era and preparing for the shifting political landscape of the seventeenth century. Their presence in such a prominent urban center indicates that they were likely integrated into the professional or merchant classes of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hening
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for home or enclosure.
This name
HeningtonRefers to the settlement or estate belonging to the followers of Hening.
also spelled
Henington
Hemyngton
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
