Map of England showing where the Mitcham arms are recorded
The Mitcham 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 England when the Mitcham 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 Mitcham Family in England
The surname Mitcham is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the town of Mitcham in Surrey, England, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Michelham. The name likely stems from the Old English words "micel," meaning great or large, and "ham," meaning a settlement or homestead. By the early 17th century, families bearing this name had established themselves in various parts of England, including the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Mitcham family were present in York by 1620, where they likely participated in the city’s vibrant trade and civic life. As the family moved away from their ancestral home in Surrey, the name became a permanent marker of their geographical origins, carried forward by generations who settled in northern urban centers like York.
Mitcham Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Micel-ham
Old English words for big or great and a homestead or village.
This name
MitchamA habitational name referring to a large settlement or a great village.
also spelled
Matchum
Matchom
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 Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of York
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
