Map of England showing where the Hillson arms are recorded
The Hillson 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 Hillson 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 Hillson Family in England
The surname Hillson is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Hill. In medieval England, Hill was often used as a short form for the name Hilary. By the year 1620, records confirm that families bearing the Hillson name were well established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England. Families living in the city at that time were often involved in the local wool industry or served as skilled craftsmen. Because York was a walled city with a long history of record-keeping, the presence of the Hillson family there suggests they were likely integrated into the urban community for several generations. As the family grew, some members moved away from the city center to work in the surrounding countryside, helping the name spread across the region of Yorkshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hyll
Old English word for a natural elevation of land or mound.
This name
HillsonA patronymic surname indicating the son of a person who lived on or near a hill.
also spelled
Hylson
Hilleson
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
cross symbolChristian faith and service
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
