Map of England showing where the Ravenhill arms are recorded
The Ravenhill arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1620.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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 Ravenhill 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Ravenhill Family in England
The surname Ravenhill is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place where the earliest members of the family lived. The name is composed of two Old English elements: "raven," referring to the bird, and "hill," which describes a prominent piece of rising land. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that the family was well-established in the county of Hereford. During this period, families often took their surnames from the physical features of the landscape surrounding their homes, such as a hill frequented by ravens. As the family grew, they became deeply connected to the local community in the West Midlands, where they lived as landowners and tradespeople. This connection to the geography of Hereford helped define the family identity for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hrafn
Old Norse term for the bird known as a raven.
This name
RavenhillA locational surname referring to a hill frequented by or named after ravens.
also spelled
Ravinhill
Ravenhyll
Related arms
Hobbsrecorded with Ravenhill, same area
Hodgsonrecorded with Ravenhill, same area
Hoggartrecorded with Ravenhill, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
ravenConstancy and divine providence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
ravenConstancy and divine providence
