Map of England showing where the Holloway arms are recorded
The Holloway arms were recorded in Berks, c. 1620.
Berkshire sat on the road west from London with the royal castle at Windsor in the middle of it. Court families bought estates within reach, and an estate near the court almost always came with 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 Holloway 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 Berks.
Origin & History of the Holloway Family in England
The surname Holloway is a topographic name that originated in England. It was typically given to people who lived near a hollow way, which was a sunken road or a path worn deep into the earth by years of travel. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Holloway family were well-established in the county of Berkshire. During this period, families often took their names from the specific physical features of the landscape where they resided. As the family grew, they became part of the local community structure in southern England, working as farmers, tradespeople, or landowners. Over time, the name spread from these rural roots as family members moved to different regions for work and new opportunities.
Holloway Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
holh weg
Old English for hollow or sunken path or road.
This name
HollowayA topographic name for someone who lived near a sunken lane or valley.
also spelled
Holeway
Holway
Hollowey
Related arms
Hallowayvariant spelling
Holewayvariant spelling
Holwayvariant spelling
Battrecorded with Holloway, same area
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
Berkshire Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
