A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dynham family of England.
Reg. 6454 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Gu. a fess dancettée erm”
Englandc. 1295
Where the Dynham Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dynham arms are recorded
The Dynham arms were recorded in England, c. 1295.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
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.
Edward I of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward I of England
1272–1307
Reigning in England when the Dynham 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 England.
Origin & History of the Dynham Family in England
The family name Dynham traces its roots to the medieval period, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of York by 1295. During this era, the name was closely associated with the social and economic life of Northern England. Families like the Dynhams often held positions of local influence, serving as landowners or merchants who helped shape the governance of growing urban centers. As the name spread across the region, it became linked to the administrative and legal developments of the late thirteenth century. By establishing themselves in a major hub like York, early Dynhams were positioned at the intersection of trade and regional politics, allowing them to leave a lasting mark on the historical record of the area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dinan
A place name referring to a fortified hill or fortress in Brittany.
This name
DynhamDerived from a locational surname indicating origin from the town of Dinan in France.
also spelled
Dinham
Dineham
Related arms
Dinhamvariant spelling
Bettsrecorded with Dynham, same area
Inglettrecorded with Dynham, same area
Provenderrecorded with Dynham, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
The National Archives, Calendar of the Close Rolls, Edward I
York City Archives, York Memorandum Book
Palliser, D. M., York City: The Growth of a Medieval Town, 1979
Reaney, P. H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
