A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cramp family of England.
Reg. 3367 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Az. a chev. ar. betw. six crosses crosslet fitchée or”
EssexDudinghurst · Essex, c. 1620
Where the Cramp Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Cramp arms are recorded
The Cramp arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Cramp 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Cramp Family in England
The surname Cramp is an ancient English name that likely originated as a descriptive nickname for a person with a physical trait or a specific way of walking. In the Middle Ages, names were often derived from personal characteristics, and it is possible that the original bearer was known for being stiff or cramped in their movements. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Cramp family were well-established in the county of Essex. During this period, families in Essex were often involved in local agriculture or trade, living in small rural parishes that had supported the same lineages for generations. These early ancestors were part of the foundational population of the region, living through a time of significant social change in England as the country began to look toward expansion and overseas settlement.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crampe
Old French term for a hook or a metal clasp.
This name
CrampAn occupational name for a blacksmith or someone who made metal fasteners.
also spelled
Cramb
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Essex Record Office, Parish Registers of Essex, D/P series
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
