Map of England showing where the Heywood arms are recorded
The Heywood arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1594.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 Heywood 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 Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Heywood Family in England
The surname Heywood is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a person’s occupation or physical traits. The name comes from the Old English words "heg," meaning hay or an enclosure, and "wudu," meaning a wood. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived near a fenced-in forest or a woodland area used for grazing livestock. By the late 16th century, the family had established a notable presence in Middlesex, where records confirm their residency by 1594. During this period, families often moved from rural areas to growing administrative hubs, and the Heywoods were part of the social fabric of the region as England moved into the early modern era. Their history reflects the common practice of families adopting the names of the landscapes they inhabited, turning the geography of their homes into a lasting identity passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heg-wudu
Old English words for an enclosure or hedge and a forest.
This name
HeywoodRefers to a person who lived near a fenced-in forest or a woodland clearing.
also spelled
Haywood
Hawood
Heywode
Related arms
Haywoodvariant spelling
Bowringrecorded with Heywood, same area
Haguerecorded with Heywood, same area
Heatonrecorded with Heywood, 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
The National Archives, Middlesex Sessions Rolls, 1594
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
bordureA difference between branches of one family
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
