A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Adlam family of England.
Reg. 0305 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, three mullets az. on a bordure of the last as many bezants in chief”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Adlam Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Adlam arms are recorded
The Adlam arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Adlam 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 England.
Origin & History of the Adlam Family in England
The surname Adlam is an ancient English name that likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a variation of a personal name. Many researchers believe it evolved from the Old English name Aethelhelm, which combines words meaning noble and protector. By the time the family was firmly established in York during the early 17th century, the name had settled into its modern spelling. Families living in York in 1620 would have been part of a bustling northern trade hub, often involved in the city’s long-standing traditions of weaving, commerce, or local governance. Because records from this era were often kept in parish registers, the presence of the Adlam name in York suggests that these early ancestors were well-integrated members of the community who participated in the religious and social life of the city during the reign of King James I.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aethelhelm
Derived from Old English elements meaning noble and protector or helmet.
This name
AdlamA locational or patronymic surname originating from the Old English personal name Aethelhelm.
also spelled
Adlamme
Related arms
Constablerecorded with Adlam, same area
Farnallrecorded with Adlam, same area
Hodgsonrecorded with Adlam, same area
Milwardrecorded with Adlam, 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, 1997
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of York, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
bordureA difference between branches of one family
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
