Map of England showing where the Hoeper arms are recorded
The Hoeper arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Hoeper 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Hoeper Family in England
The family name Hoeper likely originated as a descriptive occupational surname, derived from the Middle English word "hopere," which referred to a cooper or a maker of wooden hoops for barrels. By the early 17th century, members of the family were firmly established in the county of Devon, England. During this period, Devon was a bustling region known for its maritime trade and agricultural production, both of which relied heavily on the craftsmanship of barrel makers to transport goods like cider and salted fish. Living in such a vibrant economic hub, the early Hoepers were likely integrated into the local trade guilds that supported the region's busy ports. Their presence in the area by 1620 suggests that the family had already been rooted in the English West Country for generations, contributing to the essential infrastructure of local commerce long before the name was formally recorded in parish registers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hop
A small enclosed piece of land or a hop plant.
This name
HoeperAn occupational name for someone who lived near a hop garden or worked as a hop grower.
also spelled
Houper
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
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Parish Registers of Devon, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
