A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chaplin family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3205 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'herm.; au chef de sin., ch. de trois têtes de griffon d'or. C.: une tête de griffon d'arg., coll. d'une couronne d'or.”
BritainLondres, c. 1715
Where the Chaplin Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Chaplin arms are recorded
The Chaplin arms were recorded in Londres, c. 1715.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Britain in this period.
George I of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George I of Great Britain
1714–1727
Reigning in Britain when the Chaplin arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Chaplin Family in Britain
The surname Chaplin originated in medieval England as an occupational name for a person who served as a chaplain or a clerk in a religious household. During the Middle Ages, many people were identified by the work they performed, and those who assisted local clergy or managed church records often adopted this title as their family name. By the early eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Kent. Records from 1715 confirm that members of the Chaplin family were active in this region, where they likely participated in the agricultural and social life of the English countryside. Over time, the family name spread from these local roots to become a recognized part of the broader British population, reflecting the transition from specific professional roles to permanent hereditary surnames.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 chief indented az. three griffins' heads, erased or”
HantsLondon · Hants, c. 1593
Where the Chaplin Arms Were Recorded
Hants
Map of England showing where the Chaplin arms are recorded
The Chaplin arms were recorded in Hants, c. 1593.
Hampshire had the naval dockyards at Portsmouth on one side and good farmland on the other. Sea money and land money both bought estates, and an estate was what brought a family its 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in Britain when the Chaplin 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 Hants.
Origin & History of the Chaplin Family in England
The surname Chaplin originated in England as a descriptive occupational name, derived from the Middle English word "chapelain," which referred to a person who served as a chaplain or a clerk in a private chapel. During the medieval period, surnames often emerged to distinguish individuals based on their professional roles within the community or the church. By the late sixteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Hampshire. Records confirm that members of the Chaplin family were living in this region by 1593, where they likely integrated into the local agricultural or trade-based economy of the time. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of southern England, reflecting the broader migration and settlement patterns of families who moved from ecclesiastical service into various roles in English village life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
capellanus
A Latin term referring to a person in charge of a chapel.
This name
ChaplinAn occupational surname for a person who served as a chaplain or cleric.
also spelled
Chaplyn
Chapplin
Chaplan
Chaplen
Related arms
Chaplanvariant spelling
Chappellenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
The National Archives, Parish registers and settlement examinations for the county of Kent, 1715
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
