Map of England showing where the Hextall arms are recorded
The Hextall 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 Hextall 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 Hextall Family in England
The Hextall surname is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Northern England, with clear evidence of the family residing in the city of York by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a locative surname, which means it was used to identify individuals based on the specific village or farmstead where they lived. In the dialect of the time, the name suggests a connection to a "heck," which was a common term for a gate or a fence, combined with "hall," referring to a prominent dwelling or manor. During the early seventeenth century, families in York often played vital roles in the local trade guilds and the civic life of the walled city. As the Hextall family established themselves in this urban center, they became part of a growing merchant class that helped shape the economic stability of the region. By documenting their presence in parish registers and local legal records, we can see that the Hextalls were settled members of the community long before the industrial changes of later centuries transformed the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heggestall
A place where hedges are grown or a fenced enclosure.
This name
HextallDerived from a locational surname referring to someone living near a hedged stall or enclosure.
also spelled
Hexstall
Related arms
Hexstallvariant spelling
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
York Minster Library, Parish Registers of St. Michael le Belfrey, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
