Map of England showing where the Heyward arms are recorded
The Heyward arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1611.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind 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 Heyward 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Heyward Family in England
The surname Heyward is an occupational name that originated in medieval England. It comes from the Middle English words "heye," meaning an enclosure or hedge, and "ward," meaning a guard or keeper. In the early centuries of the name, a hayward was a village official responsible for maintaining fences and protecting crops from wandering livestock. By the time the family was firmly established in Norfolk in 1611, the name had transitioned from a job title into a hereditary family name passed down through generations. These early residents of Norfolk lived during a time of significant social change, and their name serves as a direct link to the agricultural traditions of the English countryside. The family likely played a vital role in the local community by managing the boundaries and fields that were essential to the survival of the village economy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hegeweard
Old English words for hedge and guardian or protector.
This name
HeywardA person who served as a warden or keeper of a fenced enclosure.
also spelled
Hayward
Haward
Related arms
Hawardvariant spelling
Haywardvariant spelling
Adamsrecorded with Heyward, same area
Bayleyrecorded with Heyward, same area
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Registers for the Diocese of Norwich, 1611
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
