Map of England showing where the Heyes arms are recorded
The Heyes arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1563.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Heyes 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Heyes Family in England
The surname Heyes is a locative name, meaning it was originally used to identify people by the landscape where they lived. It is derived from the Old English word "hæg," which referred to an enclosed area, a hedge, or a piece of land cleared from a forest. By the time the family was recorded in Essex in 1563, individuals bearing this name were likely settled farmers or laborers living near these distinctive boundary markers. Because spelling was not standardized in the sixteenth century, the name appeared in various forms such as Hayes, Hayse, or Heyes depending on the local clerk recording the information. These early ancestors were part of the rural population that helped shape the English countryside, and their name serves as a direct link to the specific geography of their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heg
An Old English term referring to a hedge or enclosure.
This name
HeyesA topographical name for someone who lived near an enclosure or a hedged piece of land.
also spelled
Hayes
Heyse
Related arms
Hayesvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Essex Record Office, Parish Registers of Essex, D/P series
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
