Map of England showing where the Hever arms are recorded
The Hever arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 Hever 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Hever Family in England
The family name Hever is deeply rooted in the English county of Surrey, where members of the family were firmly established by the early seventeenth century. The name itself is likely topographic in origin, meaning it was used to identify people who lived near a specific landmark or a piece of land known as a hever. In Old English, this term often referred to a steep slope or a high ridge of land. By 1620, families carrying this name were integrated into the local community, likely working as farmers or tradespeople who relied on the landscape of the Surrey countryside for their livelihood. Because surnames were often passed down based on where a person lived, the name serves as a historical link to the specific geography of the region. Over time, these early settlers helped shape the local culture of Surrey as they raised families and contributed to the growth of their parishes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haefre
Old English term referring to a haven or a sheltered harbor.
This name
HeverA locational surname derived from a village in Kent, signifying a place of refuge.
also spelled
Hevar
Hevir
Related arms
Boord, Borde, or Boardrecorded with Hever, same area
Hendleyrecorded with Hever, same area
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
Surrey History Centre, Parish Records of Surrey, 1620
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
