A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cotham family of England.
Reg. 5758 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
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. a chev. betw. three crescents ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cotham Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cotham arms are recorded
The Cotham arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Cotham 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 England.
Origin & History of the Cotham Family in England
The family name Cotham is a locative surname, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place name in England. Historical records confirm that members of the Cotham family were well-established in the city of York by the year 1620. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in the city’s bustling merchant guilds or local administration. The name itself likely originated from an Old English term referring to a homestead or a cluster of cottages, suggesting that the earliest ancestors were farmers or rural settlers who eventually moved into urban centers like York to pursue new opportunities. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Northern England, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that highlight their steady presence in the region for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cot
Old English word for a small cottage or shelter.
This name
CothamDerived from a topographical location referring to a dweller by a cottage or hut.
also spelled
Cothum
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
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
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
