Map of England showing where the Heveningham arms are recorded
The Heveningham 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 Heveningham 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 Heveningham Family in England
The family name Heveningham is rooted in the geography of medieval England, specifically originating from the village of Heveningham in Suffolk. The name is locative, meaning it was adopted by individuals who lived in or held land within that specific parish. By the early seventeenth century, the family had expanded their reach beyond their ancestral home in East Anglia. Historical records confirm that members of the Heveningham family were well-established in the city of York by 1620. During this period, the family was involved in the social and economic life of Northern England, transitioning from their origins as landed gentry in the south to becoming active participants in the urban culture of a major regional hub. Their presence in York suggests a history of migration driven by trade, legal service, or administrative roles that were common for families of their status during the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hefen
Old English term for a dwelling or a haven.
This name
HeveninghamRefers to the settlement or estate belonging to the people of Hefen.
also spelled
Hevenyngham
Heveninghamme
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Copinger, Walter Arthur. The Manors of Suffolk: Notes on their History and Devolution. 1905
Skeat, Walter William. The Place-Names of Suffolk. 1913
The National Archives, Court of Chancery: Six Clerks Office: Pleadings, Series I, Elizabeth I to Charles I
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
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saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bordureA difference between branches of one family
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bordureA difference between branches of one family
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
