Map of England showing where the Hornsey arms are recorded
The Hornsey 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 Hornsey 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 Hornsey Family in England
The surname Hornsey is a locational name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the village of Hornsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire, where the name was first recorded in the medieval period. By the early 17th century, families carrying this name had established a firm presence in the city of York. In 1620, records show members of the Hornsey family were living in this historic northern hub, likely drawn to the city by its role as a center for trade, religion, and regional government. As these individuals moved away from their ancestral village, they carried the name with them, effectively turning a local geographic identifier into a permanent family legacy that persisted through generations of northern English life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hornsea
A place name derived from Old Norse horn and Old English sae.
This name
HornseyA habitational name referring to someone from the village of Hornsea in Yorkshire.
also spelled
Hornsly
Hornslie
Hornslay
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
Smith, Albert Hugh, The Place-Names of the East Riding of Yorkshire and York, 1937
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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
