Map of England showing where the Hillary arms are recorded
The Hillary arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1620.
Leicestershire was grazing country, and wool and cattle made steady money rather than spectacular fortunes. Steady money bought manors, and manors are what brought families into the registers.
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 Hillary 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 Leicester.
Origin & History of the Hillary Family in England
The surname Hillary is rooted in the Latin name Hilarius, which translates to cheerful or joyful. During the Middle Ages, this name became popular across Europe because it was associated with Saint Hilary of Poitiers, a respected early Christian leader. By the time the family was established in Leicester in 1620, the name had evolved from a personal given name into a hereditary surname passed down through generations. Families living in Leicester during this period were often connected to the local wool trade or agricultural work, as the city served as a vital market hub in the English Midlands. Living in a central town like Leicester suggests that early members of the Hillary family were likely part of the growing merchant or artisan classes who helped shape the local economy during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hilarius
Derived from the Latin word hilaris meaning cheerful or merry.
This name
HillaryA surname originating from a medieval given name signifying a joyful or happy person.
also spelled
Hillarie
Hylary
Related arms
Blundestonsimilar arms
Blunstone, or Blundestonesimilar arms
Clintonsimilar arms
Hillarievariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Leicestershire Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1603–1642
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bordureA difference between branches of one family
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
