A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Donham family of England.
Reg. 8515 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 chief indented or”
YorkYork, c. 1620
Where the Donham Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Donham arms are recorded
The Donham arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Donham 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 York.
Origin & History of the Donham Family in England
The surname Donham is a topographical name that likely originated in England, where it described people who lived near a hill or a fortified settlement. The name is derived from the Old English words "dun," meaning hill, and "ham," meaning a home or village. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Donham family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, families with this name were often involved in local trade and civic life within the northern English counties. As the seventeenth century progressed, some members of the family chose to leave these established roots in York to seek new opportunities across the Atlantic, helping to carry the name into the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dunham
A homestead or enclosure located on a sandy hill.
This name
DonhamDerived from Old English elements meaning a settlement situated on a sandy upland.
also spelled
Dunham
Related arms
Dunhamvariant spelling
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
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 1620
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
