A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crymes family of England.
Reg. 5191 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
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)
“Or, three bars gu. each charged with as many martlets of the field, on a chief az. two bars nebulée ar”
SurreyPeckham · Surrey, c. 1620
Where the Crymes Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Crymes arms are recorded
The Crymes arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 Crymes 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Crymes Family in England
The surname Crymes is rooted in the historical landscape of southern England, with significant records placing the family in the county of Surrey by the early seventeenth century. Researchers often trace the name to the Old French word *cresme*, which was a term used to describe the holy oil used in religious sacraments. This suggests that the name may have originally functioned as a nickname for someone who carried or prepared this oil for a local church. By 1620, members of the Crymes family were established residents of Surrey, where they integrated into the local social and economic life of the region. Over time, the spelling of the name evolved as it was recorded in parish registers and legal documents, reflecting the way scribes heard and transcribed the name during the Stuart period. This transition from a descriptive occupational term to a permanent family name highlights how surnames often emerged from the daily religious and community activities of medieval and early modern life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crime
Derived from the Old French word for a fault or sin.
This name
CrymesAn occupational or descriptive surname likely referring to a person who acted as a judge or accuser.
also spelled
Crimes
Cryms
Related arms
Crimesvariant spelling
Cheneyrecorded with Crymes, same area
Hansonrecorded with Crymes, same area
Morrisrecorded with Crymes, same area
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Surrey History Centre, Parish Registers of Surrey, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
