A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cham family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Barry of six az. and ar”
The Cham arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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.
Reigning in England when the Cham arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Cham possesses a distinct history rooted in the northern regions of England, with documented evidence confirming the presence of family members in York by the year 1620. The name is often considered a topographical or occupational surname, potentially derived from early linguistic roots that identified individuals living near specific landmarks or those associated with local trade guilds. During the early seventeenth century, York served as a vital hub for commerce and administration, and the presence of the Cham family in this city suggests they were likely integrated into the urban middle class of the era. As residents of a major northern center, these early ancestors would have navigated the significant social and religious shifts that defined the Stuart period. Their established presence in such a prominent historical city highlights a long-standing connection to the region and provides a clear starting point for tracing the family lineage through local parish registers and civic records.
An official in charge of a nobleman's private chambers.
