A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heward family of Ireland.
Reg. 7331 · Irish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
swordJustice, and military honour
cinquefoilHope and joy
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, two swords in saltire ppr. pommels and hilts sa. betw. two cinquefoils in fesse, another in base, and three hearts in chief gu. all within a bordure az”
Irelandc. 1645
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Ireland showing where the Heward arms are recorded
The Heward arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Heward arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Heward Family in Ireland
The surname Heward is rooted in the Old English language and typically functions as a descriptive name for someone who served as a guardian or a keeper of livestock. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Dublin, Ireland. Historical records confirm that members of the Heward family were living in the city by 1645, a time when Dublin was a central hub for trade and political activity during the Irish Confederate Wars. As the family settled into urban life, they likely integrated into the professional and merchant classes that defined the city’s growth during the seventeenth century. Over time, the name evolved through various spellings, reflecting the way names were recorded by clerks who wrote them down based on how they sounded in local speech. This transition from a rural occupational title to a settled urban family name highlights the mobility and adaptation of the Heward line during a period of significant change in Irish history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hugihard
A Germanic compound meaning heart, mind, or spirit and brave or hardy.
This name
HewardDerived from a personal name signifying a person with a brave heart or strong spirit.
also spelled
Hewardine
Hewardson
Related arms
Howardvariant spelling
Kennedyrecorded with Heward, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654–1656
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
swordJustice, and military honour
cinquefoilHope and joy
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
bordureA difference between branches of one family
swordJustice, and military honour
cinquefoilHope and joy
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
