A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Altham family of England.
Reg. 8110 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a lion salient sa”
EssexEssex, c. 1620
Where the Altham Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Altham arms are recorded
The Altham arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Altham 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Altham Family in England
The surname Altham is a locative name, which means it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the village of Altham in Lancashire, where the family held land as early as the thirteenth century. Over time, members of the family migrated south, establishing a significant presence in the county of Essex by the early seventeenth century. By 1620, the Altham family had become well-established in this region, often serving in local government and legal roles. This transition from their northern roots to the fertile lands of Essex reflects the broader patterns of social mobility and land acquisition common among the English gentry during the late Tudor and early Stuart periods.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eald-ham
Old English words for old or ancient and a homestead or village.
This name
AlthamRefers to a person who lived at or originated from an ancient settlement.
also spelled
Althum
Althamme
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Farrer, William and Brownbill, John, The Victoria History of the County of Lancaster, 1911
Morant, Philip, The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex, 1768
The National Archives, Kew, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
