Map of England showing where the Hobby arms are recorded
The Hobby 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 Hobby 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 Hobby Family in England
The surname Hobby is rooted in the social and linguistic landscape of medieval England, where it likely originated as a nickname derived from the Middle English word "hobby," referring to a small horse or a type of falcon. By the late sixteenth century, the family had established a clear presence in the county of Kent, as evidenced by parish records dating back to 1580. During this period, Kent served as a bustling hub of trade and agriculture, providing a stable environment for families to settle and grow. Members of the Hobby family were often integrated into the local community life of the region, participating in the rural economy and the evolving administrative systems of the Elizabethan era. This early documentation in Kent suggests that the family was well-settled in the southeast of England long before the name began to spread more broadly across the country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Robert
A Germanic name meaning bright fame or shining glory.
This name
HobbyA medieval diminutive form of the name Robert, often used as a pet name.
also spelled
Hobbie
Hobey
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Cottle, Basil. The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. 1967
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M. A Dictionary of English Surnames. 1991
Kent History and Library Centre, Parish Register Transcripts for the Diocese of Canterbury, 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
