A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cumber family of England.
Reg. 5622 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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, a fesse dancettée gu. betw. three estoiles sa”
SussexSussex, c. 1620
Where the Cumber Arms Were Recorded
Sussex
Map of England showing where the Cumber arms are recorded
The Cumber arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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 Cumber 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 Sussex.
Origin & History of the Cumber Family in England
The family name Cumber has deep roots in the English county of Sussex, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. The name is generally considered a topographic surname, which means it likely originated from a person who lived near a specific landscape feature. In Old English, the term "cumb" referred to a valley or a hollow, suggesting that the first people to carry this name resided in or near such a geographical setting. Over the centuries, the spelling evolved as families moved through different parishes and recorded their names in local church registers. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in the rural communities of Sussex, where they likely worked as farmers or tradespeople who were deeply connected to the local land and its history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cumbri
An ancient Brythonic tribal name referring to the people of the north.
This name
CumberA topographic or habitational name denoting someone who originated from the region of Cumbria.
also spelled
Cumbar
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
West Sussex Record Office, Parish Registers of Sussex, 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
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
