A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chamberlin family of England.
Reg. 6686 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Erm. on a pale sa. three leopards' faces or”
EnglandLondon, c. 1620
Where the Chamberlin Arms Were Recorded
London
Map of England showing where the Chamberlin arms are recorded
The Chamberlin arms were recorded in London, c. 1620.
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 Chamberlin 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 England.
Origin & History of the Chamberlin Family in England
The surname Chamberlin is an occupational name that originated in medieval England to describe a person who worked as a chamberlain. In the royal courts and large noble households of the time, a chamberlain was a high-ranking official responsible for managing the private living quarters and financial affairs of a lord or king. As surnames became permanent during the Middle Ages, families often adopted the name based on the specific job held by their ancestors. By the time members of the Chamberlin family were documented in London in 1620, the name had already been established for centuries across various regions of England. These early settlers in London likely moved to the city to take advantage of the growing trade and professional opportunities available in the capital during the early seventeenth century. Their presence in historical records from this period reflects the broader movement of families who helped shape the social and economic landscape of colonial-era England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
camera
A Latin term referring to a vaulted chamber or room.
This name
ChamberlinAn occupational title for an official in charge of a nobleman's private chambers or treasury.
also spelled
Chamberlain
Chamberlayne
Chamberlen
Chamberlyn
Related arms
Chamberlainvariant spelling
Chamberlaynevariant spelling
Chamberlenvariant spelling
Chamberlynvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I, 1620
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
