A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Badham family of England.
Reg. 0032 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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, on a cross gu. five mullets of the first”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Badham Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Badham arms are recorded
The Badham 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 Badham 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 Badham Family in England
The surname Badham is a locative name, which means it likely originated from a specific place or settlement in England. Historical records confirm that members of the Badham family were established in the city of York by 1620, where they were active participants in the local community during the early seventeenth century. The name itself is thought to derive from Old English roots, possibly referring to a person who lived near a specific homestead or a valley associated with a man named Bada. As families moved throughout the region during this period, the name became more widespread across the English Midlands and northern counties. By settling in major hubs like York, early Badham ancestors were often involved in the trade and civic life that defined the growth of English towns during the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bada
An Old English personal name derived from the word for battle.
This name
BadhamA locative surname referring to someone from a homestead associated with Bada.
also spelled
Badam
Baddam
Related arms
Badamvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
