Map of England showing where the Heyworth arms are recorded
The Heyworth arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Heyworth 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Heyworth Family in England
The surname Heyworth is a locational name that originated in the historic county of Lancashire in North West England. It is derived from Old English words meaning an enclosed area or a hedge near a farmstead. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in the region, as evidenced by records confirming their presence in Lancaster by 1620. During this period, families often took their surnames from the specific plots of land they occupied or the nearby geographical features that defined their homesteads. As the family grew, members spread throughout the surrounding parishes, becoming deeply integrated into the local agricultural and trade communities of Northern England. This deep connection to the Lancashire landscape helped define the identity of the family for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
heg-worth
Old English for an enclosed area or homestead near a hedge.
This name
HeyworthAn inhabitant of an enclosed farmstead or settlement situated by a hedge.
also spelled
Hayworth
Haworth
Related arms
Haworthvariant spelling
Bradberryrecorded with Heyworth, same area
Chadrecorded with Heyworth, same area
Dyotrecorded with Heyworth, 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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
