A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harpham family of England.
Reg. 9009 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. a mullet ar. betw. three fleurs-de-lis or”
LincolnNorth Chapel · Lincoln, c. 1620
Where the Harpham Arms Were Recorded
Lincoln
Map of England showing where the Harpham arms are recorded
The Harpham arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1620.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Harpham 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 Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Harpham Family in England
The family name Harpham is a locative surname, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a nickname. It is derived from the village of Harpham in the East Riding of Yorkshire, where the name was first recorded in the medieval period. By the early 17th century, members of the family had moved south into Lincolnshire, where they were well-established by 1620. During this era, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Harpham or Harpham, depending on how a local clerk heard the pronunciation. These early ancestors were likely farmers or tradespeople who moved between these northern counties to seek new opportunities in the growing market towns of the region. This migration pattern reflects the way many families moved across England during the Stuart period to find land and work.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heort-ham
Old English for stag or deer enclosure or homestead.
This name
HarphamRefers to a settlement or village located near a deer park or woodland clearing.
also spelled
Harphom
Harphome
Related arms
Meymottrecorded with Harpham, same area
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
Lincolnshire Archives, Bishop’s Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
