A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Denver family of England.
Reg. 8299 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Sa. a chev. or, betw. three crosses crosslet fitchée ar”
EssexEssex, c. 1620
Where the Denver Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Denver arms are recorded
The Denver 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 Denver 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 Denver Family in England
The family name Denver traces its roots to the historic county of Essex in England, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a locative surname, which means it was used to identify people based on the specific place where they lived or held land. In the medieval period, many families adopted names derived from local geography, such as nearby valleys, streams, or small settlements. By the early seventeenth century, the Denver family had become part of the local social fabric in Essex, participating in the agricultural and community life of the region. As the family grew and moved across different parishes, they helped preserve the name through local church records and property documents. This period was a time of significant social change in England, and the presence of the family in Essex reflects the deep ties that many English surnames have to the specific landscapes of their ancestral homes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dan
A river or stream in Old English and Celtic origins.
This name
DenverDerived from a place name meaning valley of the Danes or river valley.
also spelled
Denvar
Denverre
Denveir
Related arms
Peckhamsame arms
Writingtonsame arms
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, 1620
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
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
