A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cheatham family of England.
Reg. 4807 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, ar. a gryphon segreant gu. within a bordure sa. bezantée; 2nd, ar. a chev. gu. betw. three fleams or; 3rd, gu. a cross potent or”
LancasterLancaster, c. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Cheatham arms are recorded
The Cheatham arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Cheatham 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Cheatham Family in England
The family name Cheatham is rooted in the geography of Northern England, specifically deriving from the Old English words for a riverbank or a settlement near a wood. By the early 17th century, members of the family were well-established in the county of Lancashire. Historical records confirm that individuals bearing the name were present in the Lancaster area as early as 1620. During this period, the family was part of the local social fabric in a region undergoing significant economic change. As the 1600s progressed, some members of the family migrated from these English roots to the American colonies, where they helped build new communities in Virginia. This transition marked a shift from the family's traditional life in the English countryside to the challenges of the frontier in the New World.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ceat + ham
Old English for a wild cat or river and a homestead.
This name
CheathamA habitational name referring to a settlement located near a river or wild cat habitat.
also spelled
Chethum
Chethim
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing. A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames. 1901
Ekwall, Eilert. The Place-Names of Lancashire. 1922
Lancashire Archives, Lancaster Parish Church Baptismal and Marriage Registers
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
bordureA difference between branches of one family
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
