A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Clench family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6967 · Irish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. a saltire or, in chief an annulet of the last”
SalopSalop, c. 1645
Where the Clench Arms Were Recorded
Map of Ireland showing where the Clench arms are recorded
The Clench arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1645.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Clench arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Salop.
Origin & History of the Clench Family in Ireland
The family name Clench has roots that stretch back to the English county of Shropshire, where members of the family were documented as early as 1645. During the seventeenth century, the political and social landscape of the British Isles underwent massive shifts that encouraged the movement of families across the Irish Sea. Many individuals from Shropshire and the surrounding regions traveled to Ireland during this period to take up positions in land management, trade, or military service under the new administration. As these settlers integrated into Irish society, the name Clench became established in various local records, reflecting the broader patterns of migration that defined the era. Over time, the family adapted to their new environment, moving from their origins in the English Midlands to become part of the diverse historical fabric of Ireland.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. six annulets or, conjoined in pairs, two pairs in chief, and one in base, a chief of the second (another, without the chief)”
SuffolkHarksted · Suffolk, c. 1620
Where the Clench Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Clench arms are recorded
The Clench arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, 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 Ireland when the Clench 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Clench Family in England
The family name Clench has deep roots in the English county of Suffolk, where records confirm members of the family were well-established by the year 1620. The name itself is thought to be a topographic or descriptive surname, likely derived from the Old English word "clenc," which referred to a small hill or a patch of rising ground. Families often adopted these names to identify themselves by the specific landscape where they lived or worked. By the early seventeenth century, the Clench family had become integrated into the local social fabric of East Anglia, often appearing in parish registers and legal documents as landowners or tradespeople. This period was a time of significant migration and social change in England, and the presence of the Clench family in Suffolk suggests they were part of the stable, land-holding class that helped define the rural economy of the region during the transition into the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Clench
Derived from the Middle English word clenchen meaning to fasten or grip.
This name
ClenchA nickname for a person who was physically strong or had a firm grip.
also spelled
Clinch
Related arms
Clinchvariant spelling
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
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
The National Archives (UK), State Papers Domestic, Charles I, SP 16
National Archives of Ireland, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Irish Administrations
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
