A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gilliam family of England.
Reg. 2206 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. on a chev. or, betw. three dolphins hauriant ppr. as many castles”
NorthumberlandMiddleton Hall · Northumberland, c. 1620
Where the Gilliam Arms Were Recorded
Northumberland
Map of England showing where the Gilliam arms are recorded
The Gilliam arms were recorded in Northumberland, c. 1620.
Northumberland was border country facing Scotland, raided and fought over for three hundred years. Families held their land in return for defending it, and a defending household carried a shield.
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 Gilliam 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 Northumberland.
Origin & History of the Gilliam Family in England
The surname Gilliam is a variation of the name William, which originated from the Germanic name Wilhelm. Over many centuries, the name evolved through various spellings as it spread across Europe and eventually into the British Isles. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a presence in Northumberland, England. Records indicate that members of the family were living in this northern region by 1620. During this era, families often moved to find better farmland or to participate in the growing trade networks of the time. The transition from the name William to Gilliam likely occurred as local dialects shifted the pronunciation of the initial consonant. This change became a permanent fixture for the family line as they moved from rural northern England into the broader historical record.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Guillaume
Derived from Germanic elements meaning resolute protector or helmeted warrior.
This name
GilliamAn English patronymic surname originating as a diminutive form of William, signifying son of William.
also spelled
Gillam
Gilliam
Gillem
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
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
