Map of England showing where the Heydon arms are recorded
The Heydon arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1620.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Heydon 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 Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Heydon Family in England
The surname Heydon is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, likely originating as a topographic name for people who lived near a hay-covered hill or a fenced enclosure. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Lincoln. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Heydon family were active participants in the civic and social life of this historic cathedral city during a time of significant transition in England. As residents of such a prominent administrative hub, these early family members were likely engaged in the local trades or merchant guilds that defined the economy of the region. Their presence in Lincoln suggests a family that was well-integrated into the local community, contributing to the development of the area long before the waves of migration that would later spread the name across the globe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
heg-dun
Old English elements meaning enclosure or hedge and hill.
This name
HeydonDerived from a topographical location referring to a hill enclosed by a hedge.
also spelled
Haydon
Related arms
Haydonsame arms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Lincolnshire Archives, Lincoln City Council Records: Quarter Sessions and Civic Administration, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
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