Map of England showing where the Hird arms are recorded
The Hird arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Hird 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 York.
Origin & History of the Hird Family in England
The surname Hird is a classic example of an occupational name that originated in Northern England. It is derived from the Middle English word "hirde," which was a common term used to describe a shepherd or a keeper of livestock. Because many families in the rural areas of Yorkshire relied on sheep farming for their livelihood, the name became a natural way to identify individuals based on their daily work. By the time the family was firmly established in York in 1620, the name had already been in use for several generations. During this period, the city of York served as a major hub for the wool trade, making the surname particularly fitting for the local economy. Families bearing this name were often part of the growing merchant and artisan classes that helped shape the social and economic life of the city during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hyrde
An Old English term referring to a keeper of animals.
This name
HirdAn occupational surname for a shepherd or a person who tended livestock.
also spelled
Hyrd
Hyrdes
Related arms
Herdvariant spelling
Bridgemanrecorded with Hird, same area
Dabernonrecorded with Hird, same area
Hallrecorded with Hird, same area
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, 1991
Smith, A.H., The Place-Names of the East Riding of Yorkshire and York, 1937
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
York City Archives, Freemen of the City of York Registers
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
