A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chiche family of England.
Reg. 8810 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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. three lions ramp. ar. (another, or)”
OxfordOxford, c. 1620
Where the Chiche Arms Were Recorded
Oxford
Map of England showing where the Chiche arms are recorded
The Chiche arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1620.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a 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 Chiche 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Chiche Family in England
The family name Chiche has deep roots in the historical landscape of England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of Oxford as early as 1620. The name itself is thought to be an ancient occupational or locative surname, likely evolving from Old French or Middle English terms that described a person’s character or their place of origin. During the seventeenth century, Oxford was a center of academic and social growth, and families like the Chiches were often integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes that kept the city running. While many families during this era were tied to specific trades or local landholdings, the presence of the Chiche name in parish registers and municipal records suggests they were established residents who participated in the daily life of the university town. Over time, the name persisted through generations, moving from these early Oxford foundations into the broader tapestry of English history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cicce
Old English term referring to a small or stunted person.
This name
ChicheA locative surname derived from the town of St. Osyth, formerly known as Chic.
also spelled
Chyche
Chych
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Oxfordshire History Centre, Oxford City Council Records: Quarter Sessions and Mayor’s Court Papers, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Lobel, Mary D., The Victoria History of the County of Oxford: Volume IV, The City of Oxford, 1954
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
