A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brigham family of England.
Reg. 6288 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a fleur-de-lis within an orle of martlets sa”
OxfordCannon End · Oxford, c. 1620
Where the Brigham Arms Were Recorded
Oxford
Map of England showing where the Brigham arms are recorded
The Brigham arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1620.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Brigham 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Brigham Family in England
The surname Brigham is locative in origin, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place name rather than a trade or a nickname. The name is derived from the Old English words "brycg," meaning bridge, and "ham," meaning homestead or village. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name lived near a prominent bridge within a settlement. By the early 17th century, members of the Brigham family were well-established in Oxford, England. These individuals were often involved in the academic and professional life of the city, which was a major center for learning and trade at the time. As the family grew, they became part of the broader social fabric of Oxfordshire, eventually participating in the migration to the American colonies during the Great Migration period of the 1620s and 1630s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brycg and Ham
Old English words for bridge and homestead or village.
This name
BrighamA habitational name referring to someone who lived near a bridge by a settlement.
also spelled
Brygham
Brighem
Bryghem
Related arms
Bringhamvariant 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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1936
Oxfordshire Archives, Oxford City Records: Records of the Freemen of the City of Oxford, 1600–1650
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
