A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elam family of England.
Reg. 0824 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a sword point upwards in bend sa”
KentKent, c. 1620
Where the Elam Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Elam arms are recorded
The Elam arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Elam 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Elam Family in England
The surname Elam is deeply rooted in the history of Kent, England, where records confirm the family was well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name itself is likely topographic in origin, meaning it was originally used to describe someone who lived near a specific landmark, such as a grove of elm trees. During the 1600s, families in this region were often involved in agriculture or local trade, contributing to the steady growth of the community. As the family expanded throughout the county, they became part of the local social fabric that defined rural English life during the Stuart period. By the time the first members of the family began to look toward the American colonies in 1620, the name was already a recognized part of the Kentish landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Elam
Derived from the Hebrew name meaning eternal or everlasting.
This name
ElamA locational surname referring to a place in the Bible or a settlement in England.
also spelled
Elham
Ellames
Related arms
Elhamvariant spelling
Ellamesvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
Kent Archives and Local History Centre, Parish Registers of Kent, 1600–1650
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swordJustice, and military honour
swordJustice, and military honour
