A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Banham family of England.
Reg. 2078 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Az. a bend ar. cottised or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Banham Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Banham arms are recorded
The Banham 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 Banham 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 Banham Family in England
The surname Banham is a locational name that originated from a village of the same name in Norfolk, England. The name itself is derived from Old English, combining the word for a bean with the word for a homestead or enclosure. By the early 17th century, members of the Banham family had established a presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that individuals bearing this name were living and working within the city walls during a time of significant social and economic change in Northern England. These early residents likely participated in the local trade guilds or agricultural life that defined York’s economy during the Stuart period. As the family moved away from their ancestral village in Norfolk, they helped spread the name into new urban centers, eventually rooting the Banham lineage in the northern landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Banna-ham
A personal name combined with the Old English word for homestead.
This name
BanhamRefers to a settlement or homestead belonging to a person named Banna.
also spelled
Banhem
Related arms
Baynhamvariant spelling
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, 1991
Bardsley, C.W., A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
