Map of England showing where the Hipwell arms are recorded
The Hipwell arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat of 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 Hipwell 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Hipwell Family in England
The surname Hipwell is a locational name that likely originated from a specific geographic feature in the English countryside. The name is composed of two parts, with "hip" often referring to a rose-hip or a sloping hill, and "well" indicating a nearby spring or water source. By the year 1620, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Devon. During this period, the family lived in a region defined by its rugged coastline and rolling hills, which suggests they were likely involved in local agriculture or trade. As the seventeenth century progressed, the family name became more deeply rooted in the social fabric of the West Country, reflecting the typical movement and settlement patterns of families in rural England during the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hipewelle
A spring or stream located in a hollow or valley.
This name
HipwellDerived from a topographic location referring to a well or spring situated in a deep valley.
also spelled
Hopwill
Hopwalle
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, 1958
Devon Archives, Parish Registers of the Diocese of Exeter, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
rabbitOne who lives peaceably and well
rabbitOne who lives peaceably and well
