Map of England showing where the Hookham arms are recorded
The Hookham arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Hookham 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 England.
Origin & History of the Hookham Family in England
The surname Hookham is a locative name, which means it likely originated from a specific place or geographical feature where the earliest family members resided. The name is composed of two Old English elements. The first part, hook, often referred to a bend in a river or a curved piece of land. The second part, ham, typically meant a home, village, or homestead. By combining these, the name suggests that the first people to use it lived near a distinctive bend in a waterway or a curved valley. Historical records confirm that members of the Hookham family were established in the city of York by 1620. During this period, York was a major center for trade and administration in Northern England. Families living there often worked in skilled crafts or local commerce, helping to build the city’s reputation as a hub of industry. Over the following centuries, the family name spread from these northern roots to other parts of the country as individuals moved for work and new opportunities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hoc-ham
Old English elements meaning a curved piece of land or homestead.
This name
HookhamRefers to a settlement or enclosure situated near a bend in a river or a curved hill.
also spelled
Houkham
Houkhame
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York, Archbishop of York Diocesan Records
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
