A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Churchward family of England.
Reg. 8821 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. on a fess ar. a fleur-de-lis betw. two lozenges of the first in chief a stag trippant of the second”
DevonNortham · Devon, c. 1620
Where the Churchward Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Churchward arms are recorded
The Churchward arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought 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 Churchward 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Churchward Family in England
The surname Churchward is an occupational name that originated in medieval England. It was given to individuals who served as churchwardens, which were lay officials responsible for the maintenance of a parish church and the management of its property. By the early 17th century, the family had firmly established roots in the county of Devon. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this region, where members of the family likely lived as farmers or tradespeople within the local parish system. Because the role of a churchwarden was a vital part of village life, the name became a permanent way to identify these families as they passed the title down through generations. Over time, the name evolved from a description of a person's public duty into a hereditary surname that remains tied to its historical origins in the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
cyrice and weard
Old English terms for church and guardian or protector.
This name
ChurchwardAn occupational title for a person employed as a church warden or guardian of church property.
also spelled
Churchword
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
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Parish Registers of Devon, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
