A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hopcraft family of England.
Reg. 4820 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bordureA difference between branches of one family
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a cross engr. gu. within a bordure angr. of the last”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Hopcraft Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Hopcraft arms are recorded
The Hopcraft 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 Hopcraft 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 Hopcraft Family in England
The surname Hopcraft is a rare English locative name that likely originated from a specific piece of land or a small settlement. Given the family’s documented presence in York by 1620, the name probably evolved from Old English roots describing a small, enclosed field or a croft located near a hop garden. During the seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, and families like the Hopcrafts were often part of the growing merchant or artisan classes who kept detailed parish records. Because the name is geographically distinct, it suggests that the early members of the family were likely rooted in the northern counties of England for several generations before appearing in city archives. These early ancestors lived through a period of significant social change in Yorkshire, where the transition from rural farming to urban craftsmanship helped define the family's place in local history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hoppe and craft
Middle English for a hopping or nimble skill or trade.
This name
HopcraftA nickname for a nimble or energetic craftsman or a traveling performer.
also spelled
Hopcraft
Hopcrafte
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bordureA difference between branches of one family
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bordureA difference between branches of one family
