A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chawner family of England.
Reg. 0268 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
Colours
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)
“Sa. a chev. betw. three cherubins' heads or”
HantsHants, c. 1620
Where the Chawner Arms Were Recorded
Hants
Map of England showing where the Chawner arms are recorded
The Chawner arms were recorded in Hants, c. 1620.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Chawner 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 Chawner Family in England
The surname Chawner is an occupational name that likely originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle English word "chawner," which referred to a maker or seller of chafing dishes or other metal vessels. By the early 17th century, members of the Chawner family had established a notable presence in the county of Hampshire. Records from 1620 confirm their residence in this region, where they were likely integrated into the local agrarian or trade-based economy of the time. As the family grew, they moved across different parts of England, often settling in areas where their skills in metalwork or trade were in high demand. This surname serves as a direct link to the professional lives of ancestors who helped build the infrastructure of early modern English towns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Chaucer
Derived from the Old French word for a shoemaker or cobbler.
This name
ChawnerAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of footwear, specifically hose or breeches.
also spelled
Channor
Chawnor
Chawnar
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, 1997
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
