A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bispham family of England.
Reg. 0974 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Sa. a saltire betw. four bucks' heads cabossed erminois”
LancasterBispham · Lancaster, c. 1613
Where the Bispham Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Bispham arms are recorded
The Bispham arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1613.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Bispham 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Bispham Family in England
The surname Bispham is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from the township of Bispham, which was located in the historic county of Lancashire in North West England. Etymologists believe the name comes from the Old English words for a bishop and a homestead or village, suggesting that the land was once held by the church. By the early 17th century, the family had established a firm presence in the region, with records confirming their residency in Lancaster by 1613. Over time, members of the family moved from these rural roots into various professional roles, helping to preserve the name as a distinct part of Lancashire’s local history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Biscop-ham
Old English for bishop and homestead or village.
This name
BisphamRefers to a settlement or estate belonging to a bishop.
also spelled
Byspham
Bispam
Related arms
Hickierecorded with Bispham, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Place-Names of Lancashire. 1922
Farrer, William and Brownbill, John. A History of the County of Lancaster. 1906
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
