A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hinchley family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Paly of six or and gu”
The Hinchley 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.
Reigning in England when the Hinchley arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Hinchley is a locational surname that likely originated from a small settlement or a specific geographical feature in England. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Hinchley family were well-established residents of York. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, suggesting that early ancestors were likely involved in the bustling urban economy of the city. The name itself is believed to derive from Old English roots, potentially referring to a sheltered nook or a specific hillside. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of the region through their work and community ties. Over the centuries, the name evolved in spelling as it spread from these northern roots to other parts of the country.
Middle English term for a servant or a page.
