Heighmint History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Heighmint is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The Heighmint family lived in Warwickshire. The Hayman, however, does not refer to that area, but is a topographical reference to an enclosure of some sort. The name was originally derived from the Old English word haye, which meant enclosure. 1

Alternatively, the name could have been an occupational one that referred to "the hayman" or seller of hay. 2

Early Origins of the Heighmint family

The surname Heighmint was first found in Warwickshire where one of the first records of the name was Walter Heyman who was listed there in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1332. 1

Early History of the Heighmint family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heighmint research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1575, 1580, 1610, 1618, 1629, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1653, 1658, 1690, 1708, 1723, 1742 and 1776 are included under the topic Early Heighmint History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heighmint Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Heighmint family name include Hayman, Heyman and others.

Early Notables of the Heighmint family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Robert Hayman (1575-1629), English poet from Newton Abbot, Devon, colonist and Proprietary Governor of Bristol's Hope colony in Newfoundland. He was the eldest of nine children. His father, Nicholas Hayman, was a prosperous citizen and later mayor and MP of both Totnes and Dartmouth. Hayman was appointed the Newfoundland colony's first and only governor in 1618 when Bristol's Society of Merchant Venturers received a charter from King James I of England to establish the settlement. Hayman lived in the colony for fifteen months, primarily in Harbour Grace, before returning to England. Sir Peter Heyman...
Another 103 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heighmint Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Heighmint family to Ireland

Some of the Heighmint family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Heighmint family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Heighmint family to immigrate North America: William Hayman settled in Barbados in 1634; Captain Hayman settled in Boston in 1765; William Hayman arrived in Philadelphia in 1774; Lambert Haymen settled in Philadelphia in 1875..

The Heighmint Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Coelum non solum
Motto Translation: Heaven not earth.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)