A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ham family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 3234 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à un jambon de sa., en pal; au 2 d'or à une marmite de gu., et une plante de lis de sin., fleurie de trois pièces d'azur, sortant de la marmite.”
NetherlandsHarlem, c. 1815
Where the Ham Arms Were Recorded
Harlem
Map of Netherlands showing where the Ham arms are recorded
The Ham arms were recorded in Harlem, c. 1815.
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.
Region
Harlem
Town
Harlem
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Ham Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Ham arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Ham Family in Netherlands
The surname Ham has deep roots in the Netherlands, where it often functioned as a topographical name for families living near a "ham," which is an old Germanic term for a piece of land situated in a river bend or a low-lying meadow. By the early 19th century, members of the Ham family were well-established in the historic city of Haarlem. During this period, the Netherlands was undergoing significant social and political shifts following the end of the Napoleonic era and the establishment of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815. Families like the Hams were part of the urban fabric of Haarlem, a city known for its long tradition of trade, textile manufacturing, and horticulture. As the country transitioned into a new century, individuals carrying this name participated in the local economy and civic life, helping to shape the community during a time of national rebuilding.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à trois croiss. de gu.”
VermandoisVermandois, c. 1663
Where the Ham Arms Were Recorded
Vermandois
Map of France showing where the Ham arms are recorded
The Ham arms were recorded in Vermandois, c. 1663.
Vermandois was northern French country on the road between Flanders and Paris. Armies crossed it repeatedly, its families held land under arms, and a shield was a working thing there.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Netherlands when the Ham arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Vermandois.
Origin & History of the Ham Family in France
The family name Ham is deeply connected to the geography of northern France, specifically within the historic region of Vermandois. By the mid-seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in this area, which was known for its fertile lands and strategic importance during the reign of King Louis XIV. The name itself likely originated as a topographic descriptor, as the town of Ham in the Somme department served as a prominent local landmark and a center of regional administration. Families living in or near this settlement often adopted the name to signify their place of origin or their connection to the local seigneurial lands. As these early ancestors navigated the social structures of the 1660s, their presence in Vermandois placed them within a landscape shaped by centuries of agricultural tradition and shifting political borders. This geographic link provided the family with a clear identity that persisted as they moved through the rural parishes of the French countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Az. a lion ramp. guard. ar. armed gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Ham Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Ham arms are recorded
The Ham arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
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 Netherlands when the Ham 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 Ham Family in England
The surname Ham is deeply rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a topographical name for people who lived near a "ham," which was the Old English word for a meadow or an enclosed piece of land. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already been established in various regions for centuries. During the Middle Ages, families often took their names from the specific geography of their local village or farmstead. As people began to move from rural areas into growing urban centers like York, they carried these place-based names with them. This transition helped the name evolve from a simple description of a person’s home into a permanent family identifier that was passed down through generations. By the early seventeenth century, the Ham family had become part of the social fabric of Northern England, living through a period of significant economic and cultural change in the city of York.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hamme
A piece of land situated in a bend of a river.
This name
HamRefers to a person who lived near a river bend or enclosed meadow.
also spelled
Hamm
Hame
Hamme
Hammes
Related arms
Blauwveltrecorded with Ham, same area
de Jonghrecorded with Ham, same area
Druyfrecorded with Ham, same area
Fockamarecorded with Ham, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk. 2003
Meertens, P.J. De betekenis van de Nederlandse familienamen. 1993
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
