The diary of a Heraldry Addict
Hart
William Chesney Hart, of Hope Bowdler.
Arms: Per chevron Gules and Azure, three harts trippant two and one Argent.
Crest: A lion's head Erminoise ducally crowned Gules (from a book plate).
There are quite a lot of armigers with the surname Harris in the MS, here is one example:
Harris, Thomas, of Boreatton, Sheriff 1619, created baronet 1622.
Arms: Or, three hedgehogs 2 & 1 Azure.
Crest: A hedgehog Azure.
Harries.
In this example, it is the crest that provided the pun*.
Harries, of Tong Castle.
Arms: Barry of eight Ermine and Azure over all three annulets 2 & 1 Argent**.
Crest: A hawk Argent, beaked and belled Or, preying on a pheasant of the first.
(Granted 1604)
The Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) is considered an heraldic pun for the surname Harries (or Harris) because of a phonetic and orthographic pun, often referred to in heraldry as "canting arms. "Phonetic Pun: The name "Harris's Hawk" sounds almost identical to the surname "Harries." In heraldry, puns are often used to make a coat of arms easily recognizable and memorable.
*This may well present us with a bit of a chicken and egg conundrum; The "Harris" Connection: The bird was named by the 19th-century naturalist John James Audubon in honour of his friend and financial supporter, Edward Harris. Given that the arms of Harries, of Tong Castle, were granted in 1604 and the crest was a hawk, it is difficult to reconcile the pun on the surname if Harris's Hawk wasn't named as such until the 19th-century!
**There are in fact a number of differing references to the arms of Harries of Tong Castle. Although the Shropshire MS I am using gives the annulets as Argent and the crest of a hawk trussing a pheasant, this differs considerably from the more authoritative Visitations of 1623 which state:
Harris, of Cruckton and Tong Castle
Arms: Harl. 1896 - Barry of eight Ermine and Azure, over all three annulets Or.
crest: A hawk Argent, beaked and belled Or preying on a pheasant of the first.
Hackelut, or Hakelut
Arms: Gules, three battle axes Or.
This one made me smile as it is a true heraldic pun based upon dialect. Completely ignoring any etymology of the surname, this is simply a play on words; hack a lot. Hence a lot of axes capable of hacking. Marvellous.
The surname Hackelut (and its variants like Hackluett) is believed to have English origins, dating back to the medieval period. It is considered to be of English origin. The name likely derives from a combination of Old English elements, potentially relating to a geographical feature, a specific location, or an occupation. Suffix: The ending "-luett" or "-lut" often functions as a diminutive, which could imply a smaller version of a place, a "little" person, or a specific local identifier.
The pun in the arms of John Glover, Bailiff, 1482, is very obvious.
Glover, John, Bailiff, 1482.
Arms: Sable, two gloves palewise dexter and sinister Argent.
I have chosen to use falconer's gloves in my illustration.
The surname Glover is an English occupational name for a maker or seller of gloves, originating from the Middle English glovere and Old English glōf (glove). It was a common medieval trade, sometimes including the crafting of steel gauntlets for armor. The name was first recorded in the 13th century.
Gateford isn't at first an obvious pun.
Gateford
Arms: Sable, a bend between six goats climant Argent (Visitations)
Gateford: Derived from Old English gāt (goat) + ford (ford). The goat reference is present, there are six of them, and it is quite possible that the bend represents a ford, so there we have it.
Frere or Fryer of Charlton.
(Same arms as Frere of Essex)
Arms: Sable, a chevron between 3 dolphins naiant Argent quartered with Argent a chevron between three escallop shells Sable differenced by a crescent on the chevron.
The Shropshire MS makes no mention of a crest but as it states that the arms are the same as those of Frere of Essex so, for this illustration, I have "borrowed" the Frere of Essex crest.
Crest: (from the arms of Fryer Co. Essex) Out of a ducal coronet Or an antelope's head Argent attired, crined, and tufted Gold.
In heraldry, dolphins and scallop shells carry profound religious, particularly Christian, significance, often representing salvation, pilgrimage, and the soul's journey. Early Christians used the dolphin as a symbol of Jesus Christ, often viewing them as friendly creatures ("sailor's friend") that guide souls to the "safe shores" of heaven, similar to how they were believed to lead sailors to safety.
The crest may or may not have any religious significance however in many cultures, it is often regarded as a symbol of grace, speed, spiritual guidance, and divine protection.
The surname Frere (and variant Frère) has French and English origins, deriving primarily from the Old French frere (meaning "brother" or "friar"). It emerged as a medieval nickname for a brother, a pious person, a member of a religious order, or as an occupational name for someone working at a friary.
Hart William Chesney Hart, of Hope Bowdler. Arms: Per chevron Gules and Azure, three harts trippant two and one Argent. Crest: A lion's...
