Map of England showing where the Chard arms are recorded
The Chard arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Chard 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Chard Family in England
The surname Chard is a locative name, which means it was originally given to people who lived in or near the town of Chard in Somerset, England. The name of the town itself likely comes from the Old English word "ceart," which refers to rough or uncultivated land covered in scrub or bushes. By the year 1620, families carrying this name were well-established in the Somerset region, where they were often involved in the local agricultural economy and the growing cloth trade that defined the area during the seventeenth century. Because surnames were often adopted based on a person’s place of origin, the Chard family likely moved from the town into the surrounding countryside as they sought new land for farming. Over time, these early settlers helped shape the local community, leaving behind a legacy that remains tied to the geography and history of the West Country.
Chard Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Ceard
A Gaelic or Old Irish term referring to a craftsman or smith.
This name
ChardAn occupational surname for a skilled metalworker or artisan.
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Somerset Archives, Quarter Sessions Records, 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
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
