A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Debenham family of England.
Reg. 6403 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa (another, az.) a bend betw. two crescents or (another, ar.)”
SuffolkSuffolk, c. 1620
Where the Debenham Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Debenham arms are recorded
The Debenham 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 England when the Debenham 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 Debenham Family in England
The surname Debenham is a classic example of a locative name, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal trait. The name originates from the village of Debenham in the county of Suffolk, England. The name itself is derived from Old English, combining the name of the River Deben with the word "ham," which refers to a homestead or a village. By the early 17th century, families bearing this name were well-established in the Suffolk region. These early members were typically tied to the land and local community life, living in a landscape defined by small rural parishes and agricultural traditions. As the family grew, individuals moved throughout the county, carrying the name of their ancestral village with them as a permanent identifier of their geographic roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Deben
A river name derived from the Old English word for deep.
This name
DebenhamA habitational name referring to a settlement located by the River Deben.
also spelled
Debnam
Debenam
Related arms
Debnamvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Suffolk Archives, Ipswich Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
