A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Baynham family of England.
Reg. 5470 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Vert, a cross moline or”
HerefordshireHerefordshire, c. 1588
Where the Baynham Arms Were Recorded
Herefordshire
Map of England showing where the Baynham arms are recorded
The Baynham arms were recorded in Herefordshire, c. 1588.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Baynham 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 Herefordshire.
Origin & History of the Baynham Family in England
The surname Baynham is a locational name that likely originated from the Old English words for a homestead or enclosure near a river. By the late sixteenth century, the family established a significant presence in the county of Herefordshire, which sits along the border between England and Wales. Records from 1588 confirm that members of the Baynham family were active landowners and participants in local society during this period of English history. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the rural economy of the West Midlands. Their history reflects the broader movement of families who settled in the fertile river valleys of the Welsh Marches to pursue agriculture and trade. Over time, the name became firmly rooted in the local records of the region, marking the family as a stable part of the community for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beneham
A homestead or enclosure located near a bean field.
This name
BaynhamDerived from a locational surname referring to a settlement situated by a field of beans.
also spelled
Bainham
Banham
Baynam
Related arms
Bullocksame arms
Banhamvariant spelling
Beynham, or Eynonvariant 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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
