Map of England showing where the Hoe arms are recorded
The Hoe arms were recorded in Bedford, c. 1620.
Bedfordshire was small, flat farming country close to London. Its manors were held by middling families rather than great ones, but a manor was a manor, and holding one brought 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 Hoe 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 Bedford.
Origin & History of the Hoe Family in England
The family name Hoe is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, where it likely originated as a topographical surname. In Old English, the word "hoh" referred to a ridge or a spur of land that projected out like a heel, and it was common for families living near such landmarks to adopt the name as their own. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a clear presence in Bedford, as evidenced by records from 1620. During this period, the family was integrated into the local community, living through a time of significant social and religious change in the English Midlands. These early members were part of a society that relied heavily on agriculture and local trade, and their survival in the historical record suggests they were settled, land-holding individuals who played a steady role in the development of their parish.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hoh
Old English term referring to a heel or a projecting ridge.
This name
HoeA topographical name for someone who lived on or near a spur of land.
also spelled
Howe
Hoo
Hoese
Related arms
Hoovariant spelling
Howevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Bedfordshire Archives, Parish Register Transcripts for Bedford St Paul, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
