Map of England showing where the Dunham arms are recorded
The Dunham arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1620.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Dunham 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 Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Dunham Family in England
The surname Dunham is a locative name, which means it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from the Old English words "dun," meaning a hill, and "ham," meaning a homestead or village. This suggests that the earliest people to carry the name lived in or near a settlement located on a hill. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Lincoln, England. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Dunham family were living in this historic cathedral city during a time of significant social and religious change. From these roots in the English Midlands, the family name eventually spread across the world as individuals sought new opportunities in different lands.
Dunham Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Dun-ham
Old English words for hill and homestead or enclosure.
This name
DunhamRefers to a person who lived at a homestead located on a hill.
also spelled
Dunhamme
Related arms
Donhamvariant spelling
Bella Aquarecorded with Dunham, same area
Wawsfordrecorded with Dunham, same area
Whethamrecorded with Dunham, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
Lincolnshire Archives, Lincoln Consistory Court Wills, 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
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
