Map of England showing where the Hobbie arms are recorded
The Hobbie arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1580.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Hobbie 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Hobbie Family in England
The surname Hobbie originates as a medieval nickname derived from the personal name Robert. During the Middle Ages, it was common for people to shorten names like Robert into nicknames such as Hob or Hobbe, and the suffix added to the end eventually turned these nicknames into permanent family surnames. By the year 1580, records confirm that members of the Hobbie family were well-established in the county of Kent, England. During this period, families in Kent were often involved in local agriculture or the thriving wool trade that defined the region's economy. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that track their movement through the English countryside. These early ancestors were likely tenant farmers or skilled tradespeople who helped shape the rural communities of southeastern England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Robert
A Germanic name meaning bright fame or shining glory.
This name
HobbieA diminutive form of the name Robert, historically used as a pet name or nickname.
also spelled
Hobbie
Hobey
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
Kent Archives, Canterbury Cathedral Archives: Parish Registers of Kent, 1580
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
