Map of England showing where the Hexham arms are recorded
The Hexham arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat of 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 Hexham 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Hexham Family in England
The surname Hexham is a locative name, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place rather than a trade or personal trait. The name originates from the historic market town of Hexham in Northumberland, which was a significant religious and administrative center in Northern England. While the name is tied to this northern geography, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the county of Devon by the year 1620. During the early seventeenth century, families often migrated across England for work in agriculture or the growing wool trade. This relocation from the north to the southwest suggests that the family was part of the mobile population that helped shape the local economy of Devon during the reign of King James I. By settling in the west country, these early ancestors helped transition the name from a regional identifier in the north to a permanent part of the local history in Devon.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hagustald
Old English term for a young warrior or bachelor.
This name
HexhamRefers to a settlement or homestead belonging to a young warrior.
also spelled
Huxam
Huxamm
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
The National Archives, Kew. Exchequer: King's Remembrancer: Port Books, E 190
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
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