Map of England showing where the Hewish arms are recorded
The Hewish arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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 Hewish 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Hewish Family in England
The family name Hewish traces its roots to the rugged landscape of Cornwall, where records confirm members of the family were well-established by the year 1620. The name itself is considered a locative surname, meaning it likely originated from a specific place or farmstead known as Hewish, which is derived from Old English terms for a hide of land. In the early seventeenth century, Cornwall was a region defined by its distinct mining industry and maritime trade, and families like the Hewishes were often deeply connected to the local parish communities. These early ancestors were typically farmers or tradespeople who lived in small, tight-knit villages across the Cornish countryside. By settling in this southwestern corner of England, the family became part of a unique cultural history that remained somewhat isolated from the rest of the country for many generations. This geographic stability allowed the name to persist in local parish registers for centuries, marking the family as a long-standing presence in the Cornish social fabric.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hugo
A Germanic name derived from the word for mind, heart, or spirit.
This name
HewishA locational surname referring to someone from a place associated with Hugh.
also spelled
Hewis
Hewes
Hewyshe
Related arms
Hewesvariant spelling
Hewisvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Padel, O.J., A Popular Dictionary of Cornish Place-Names, 1988
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
