A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Headlam family of England.
Reg. 2249 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lambGentleness, patience and faith
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. a chev. or, betw. three lambs' heads erased ar”
YorkKexby · York, c. 1665
Where the Headlam Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Headlam arms are recorded
The Headlam arms were recorded in York, c. 1665.
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.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in England when the Headlam 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 York.
Origin & History of the Headlam Family in England
The surname Headlam is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the village of Headlam, located in the County of Durham in Northern England. The name itself combines Old English roots, likely referring to a sheltered piece of land or a clearing near a headland. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family had moved south into the city of York. Records from 1665 confirm their presence in this historic urban center, where they established themselves as part of the local community during a period of significant social and political change in England. Over time, the family name spread from its rural northern origins to become firmly rooted in the professional and civic life of Yorkshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haedla
Old English personal name meaning a dweller or settler.
This name
HeadlamRefers to a settlement or homestead belonging to a person named Haedla.
also spelled
Hedlam
Headlum
Related arms
Hedlamvariant spelling
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, University of York. Archbishop of York’s Diocesan Records
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lambGentleness, patience and faith
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lambGentleness, patience and faith
