A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Flintham family of England.
Reg. 4065 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
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 fesse betw. six martlets sa”
EnglandFlintham, c. 1614
Where the Flintham Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Flintham arms are recorded
The Flintham arms were recorded in Flintham, c. 1614.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Flintham 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 Flintham Family in England
The surname Flintham is a locative name, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place to identify a person’s origin. The name comes from the village of Flintham in Nottinghamshire, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as *Flintham*. The name itself is derived from Old English, combining the word for flint with the suffix for a homestead or village. While the family had established roots in the historic city of York by 1614, the name suggests that earlier ancestors likely migrated from the Nottinghamshire village to other parts of Northern England. Families often adopted these place names as surnames during the Middle Ages to distinguish themselves as they moved away from their ancestral homes to seek new opportunities in growing urban centers like York.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Flint-ham
Flint refers to hard stone; ham refers to a homestead or village.
This name
FlinthamA settlement or homestead located on or near stony, flint-rich ground.
also spelled
Flinthamme
Flyntham
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1614
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
