A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Champ family of England.
Reg. 1409 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 fesse betw. three mascles gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Champ Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Champ arms are recorded
The Champ 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Champ 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 Champ Family in England
The surname Champ is rooted in the linguistic landscape of medieval England, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a locational identifier. The name is often linked to the Old French word champ, which translates to field, suggesting that early ancestors may have been farmers or individuals who lived near an open stretch of land. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Champ family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in the city's influential guilds or local government. These early residents helped shape the community during a time of significant social change in Northern England, leaving behind a legacy that reflects the steady growth and integration of the family into the fabric of English society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
campus
A Latin term referring to an open field or level ground.
This name
ChampA topographic name for someone who lived near a field or open plain.
also spelled
Champpe
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
