Map of England showing where the Hound arms are recorded
The Hound arms were recorded in Cambridge, c. 1620.
Cambridgeshire was flat, rich farming country with the university at its centre. Fen drainage made new land and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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 Hound 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 Cambridge.
Origin & History of the Hound Family in England
The surname Hound traces its roots back to the linguistic traditions of medieval England, where names were often derived from nicknames or descriptive traits related to one's character or occupation. In the early seventeenth century, the family established a notable presence in the academic and social landscape of Cambridge. By 1620, records indicate that members of the Hound family were settled within this historic university town, likely participating in the vibrant trade and scholarly life that defined the region during the reign of King James I. As the family integrated into the local community, they contributed to the steady growth of the area, eventually becoming part of the wave of migration that saw many English families seek new opportunities across the Atlantic. Their early history reflects the broader patterns of English life, where families moved from rural origins into established urban centers before eventually participating in the expansion of the British colonies.
Hound Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Hund
Old English word for a dog or hound.
This name
HoundAn occupational surname for a professional hunter or a keeper of hunting dogs.
also spelled
Hound
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Cambridgeshire Archives, Bishop’s Transcripts of Parish Registers for Cambridge
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Venn, John, Alumni Cantabrigienses: A Biographical List of All Known Students, Graduates and Holders of Office at the University of Cambridge, from the Earliest Times to 1751, 1922
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
