Map of England showing where the Hickling arms are recorded
The Hickling arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1620.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with arms.
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 Hickling 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 Northampton.
Origin & History of the Hickling Family in England
The surname Hickling is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the village of Hickling in Nottinghamshire, where the name first appeared in records during the Middle Ages. The name is composed of Old English elements that likely refer to the followers or family of a man named Hicca. By the early 17th century, members of the family had migrated and established roots in Northampton. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this region, showing that the family had moved from their ancestral home to become part of the growing community in the English Midlands. Over time, these early settlers helped shape the local history of Northampton through their involvement in trade and community life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hicel
An Old English personal name derived from the word for a sprout.
This name
HicklingRefers to the descendants or people belonging to the family of Hicel.
also spelled
Hicklyng
Hicklen
Related arms
Hiklingevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M. A Dictionary of English Surnames. 1991
Northamptonshire Archives, Parish Register of All Saints, Northampton, 1620
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
