Map of England showing where the Hoylman arms are recorded
The Hoylman arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1608.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought 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 Hoylman 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Hoylman Family in England
The family name Hoylman traces its roots to the rugged landscape of Devon, England, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1608. During this period, the name likely emerged as a descriptive identifier for individuals living near a specific geographical feature, such as a hollow or a low-lying valley. In the seventeenth century, most people lived in small rural communities, and surnames often shifted in spelling based on how a local clerk heard the name pronounced. As the family grew, they integrated into the local agricultural and merchant life of the West Country. This early presence in Devon suggests that the family was deeply connected to the regional history of southwestern England, witnessing the transition from the Elizabethan era into the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Holm
Old Norse term for an island or a river meadow.
This name
HoylmanA person who lived on or near a river island or meadow.
also spelled
Holeman
Holmon
Holleman
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Bishop's Transcripts of Devon Parish Registers, 1608
Hoskins, W.G., Devon, 1954
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
