Map of England showing where the Hide arms are recorded
The Hide arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Hide 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 England.
Origin & History of the Hide Family in England
The surname Hide is an ancient English name that likely originated as a topographical descriptor for people living on or near a "hide" of land. In the medieval period, a hide was a specific unit of measurement representing the amount of land needed to support a single household, typically ranging from 60 to 120 acres. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had been established for centuries across various parts of England. Families bearing this name often lived in rural areas where they worked as farmers or stewards of these land parcels. As the family moved into urban centers like York, they integrated into the growing trade and civic life of the city. Their presence in 17th-century records suggests that they were part of the expanding middle class that helped shape the local economy during a time of significant social change in northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hyd
An Old English unit of land measurement sufficient to support a family.
This name
HideA topographic name for someone who lived on or held a hide of land.
also spelled
Hyde
Hiede
Hyd
Related arms
Hydevariant spelling
Barleyrecorded with Hide, same area
Criolrecorded with Hide, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
