Map of England showing where the Hixon arms are recorded
The Hixon arms were recorded in Cambridge, c. 1617.
Cambridgeshire was flat, rich farming country with the university at its centre. Fen drainage made new land and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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 Hixon 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 Cambridge.
Origin & History of the Hixon Family in England
The surname Hixon is a patronymic name, which means it originally identified a person as the son of a man named Hick. The name Hick was a common medieval nickname for Richard. By the early 17th century, the Hixon family had established a notable presence in Cambridge, England. Records from 1617 confirm that members of the family were living in this academic hub during a time of significant social and religious change. Families in this region often worked as tradespeople or scholars, contributing to the local economy and the growing intellectual life of the university town. Over time, the spelling of the name evolved from variations like Hickson to the modern Hixon as families moved and settled in different parts of the country. This transition reflects the way surnames were passed down through generations as a permanent way to track family identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Richard
A Germanic name composed of elements meaning brave and powerful ruler.
This name
HixonA patronymic surname meaning son of Hick, which is a medieval diminutive of Richard.
also spelled
Hickson
Hyxon
Hyckson
Related arms
Hicksonvariant spelling
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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Cambridgeshire Archives, Cambridge St Edward Parish Registers, 1617
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legStrength and swiftness
legStrength and swiftness
