A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cheese family of England.
Reg. 8119 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Az. a lion ramp. or, quarterly with WATKINS, viz., gu. a chev. betw. three spears' heads embrued ar”
HerefordHuntington · Hereford, c. 1620
Where the Cheese Arms Were Recorded
Hereford
Map of England showing where the Cheese arms are recorded
The Cheese arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1620.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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 Cheese 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Cheese Family in England
The surname Cheese is a localized English name that likely originated as a descriptive nickname for a person who either produced or sold dairy products. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Cheese family were well-established in the county of Herefordshire. During this era, families often lived in the same rural parishes for generations, working as farmers or tradespeople within the local community. The name appears in regional documents from the early seventeenth century, suggesting that the family was a stable part of the social fabric in the West Midlands. Over time, these early settlers helped define the identity of the region as they moved from simple agricultural roles into various professional positions throughout the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Caseus
Latin term referring to a food product made from pressed milk curds.
This name
CheeseAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of dairy products.
also spelled
Cheeze
Related arms
Holmerecorded with Cheese, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre, Bishop’s Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
