Map of England showing where the Chesterman arms are recorded
The Chesterman arms were recorded in Wiltshire, c. 1620.
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 Chesterman 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 Wiltshire.
Origin & History of the Chesterman Family in England
The surname Chesterman is a locative or occupational name that likely emerged in medieval England to describe someone who lived near or worked within a specific fortified structure known as a chester. This term derives from the Old English word ceaster, which itself comes from the Latin castrum, meaning a camp or fort. By the early seventeenth century, the family was well-established in the county of Wiltshire. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this region, where members of the family were often involved in local agriculture and trade. During this period, families in Wiltshire typically lived in small rural parishes where they maintained strong ties to the land and the local church community. Over time, the name became a distinct identifier for these families as they settled into the social and economic life of the English countryside.
Chesterman Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Cester
Derived from the Latin castrum meaning a fortified camp or town.
This name
ChestermanA person who lived near or worked at a fortified Roman town or camp.
also spelled
Chestermon
Chestermen
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1998
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Wiltshire Parish Registers, 1620
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
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
bordureA difference between branches of one family
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
