A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Braham family of England.
Reg. 7719 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. a cross patonce or”
BerksNew Windsor · Berks, c. 1569
Where the Braham Arms Were Recorded
Berks
Map of England showing where the Braham arms are recorded
The Braham arms were recorded in Berks, c. 1569.
Berkshire sat on the road west from London with the royal castle at Windsor in the middle of it. Court families bought estates within reach, and an estate near the court almost always came with a coat of 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Braham 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 Berks.
Origin & History of the Braham Family in England
The surname Braham is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place where the family resided. Historical records confirm that members of the Braham family were established in the county of Berkshire by 1569. The name likely originates from Old English roots, specifically referring to a homestead or enclosure near a bramble thicket or a clearing. During the sixteenth century, families often adopted these geographic descriptors to distinguish themselves within their local communities. As the family grew, they became part of the rural social fabric of southern England, maintaining ties to the land and local parish life throughout the late Tudor period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Abraham
Hebrew for father of a multitude
This name
BrahamA patronymic surname derived from the personal name Abraham
also spelled
Brahaim
Brayham
Brahem
Related arms
Breamesame arms
Bestsimilar arms
Beringerrecorded with Braham, same area
Brownerecorded with Braham, same area
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
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1569
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
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