A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Challen family of England.
Reg. 3884 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
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 chev. engr. or, betw. three cherubs' heads of the last”
SussexShopwhyke · Sussex, c. 1620
Where the Challen Arms Were Recorded
Sussex
Map of England showing where the Challen arms are recorded
The Challen arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic 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 Challen 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 Sussex.
Origin & History of the Challen Family in England
The family name Challen is deeply rooted in the history of Sussex, England, where members of the family were firmly established by the early seventeenth century. Researchers believe the name likely originated as a topographical surname, which was a common way to identify people based on the specific landscape where they lived. It is thought to be a variation of the Old English word "ceald," meaning cold, combined with a suffix indicating a specific valley or hollow. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the Challen line were likely farmers or laborers who resided in a chilly or shadowed valley within the Sussex countryside. By 1620, the family had become a recognized part of the local community, living through a period of significant social and agricultural change in southern England. Their presence in parish records from this era confirms that they were well-integrated into the rural life of the region, where they likely worked the land and contributed to the local economy for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ceol
Old English term meaning ship or keel.
This name
ChallenA topographical name for someone who lived near a ship landing or harbor.
also spelled
Challin
Challyn
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
West Sussex Record Office, Parish Registers of Sussex, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
