Map of England showing where the Hipkiss arms are recorded
The Hipkiss 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 Hipkiss 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 Hipkiss Family in England
The surname Hipkiss is a patronymic name that likely originated as a nickname or a descriptive term in the West Midlands of England before spreading to other regions. By the early seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the Hipkiss family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families living there often worked as skilled craftsmen or merchants. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older English naming patterns where a short, informal name was combined with a suffix to denote lineage. Because the family was present in York by 1620, they were likely part of the growing urban middle class that helped shape the city’s economy during the reign of King James I. While the exact meaning of the name remains a subject of linguistic debate, its presence in Northern England during the early 1600s highlights the family's long-standing roots in British history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hipp
A medieval pet form of the Germanic name Hippolytus.
This name
HipkissA patronymic surname meaning son of Hipp, derived from the diminutive suffix kiss.
also spelled
Hipkise
Related arms
Deedessame arms
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
