A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heigham family of England.
Reg. 4460 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Sa. a fesse chequy or and az. betw. three nags' heads erased ar”
SuffolkHunston Hall · Suffolk, c. 1577
Where the Heigham Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Heigham arms are recorded
The Heigham arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1577.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Heigham 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Heigham Family in England
The surname Heigham originates from the ancient landscape of Suffolk, where the family established deep roots long before the late sixteenth century. The name itself is locative, derived from the Old English words "heah" meaning high and "ham" meaning a homestead or village. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely settled on elevated ground or a prominent piece of land within the county. By 1577, the family had become well-established members of the local gentry, often serving in administrative roles that helped shape the governance of East Anglia. Their presence in the region was marked by significant landholdings and long-standing connections to the local parish communities. These early generations were deeply integrated into the social and economic fabric of Suffolk, reflecting a history tied closely to the development of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heg
Old English term for a hedge or an enclosure.
This name
HeighamRefers to a person who lived near a hedge or an enclosed piece of land.
also spelled
Hegham
Heighum
Heygham
Related arms
Highamsimilar arms
Heghamvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Copinger, Walter Arthur, The Manors of Suffolk: Notes on their History and Devolution, 1905
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Suffolk Archives, Ipswich Branch, Records of the Heigham Family of Barrow, HA 517
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
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
horseReadiness to serve king and country
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
horseReadiness to serve king and country
