A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mottram family of England.
Reg. 5370 · English, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. on a chev. ar. betw. three crosses crosslet or, as many cinquefoils gu”
YorkBishopdike Hall · York, c. 1665
Where the Mottram Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Mottram arms are recorded
The Mottram 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 Mottram 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 Mottram Family in England
The family name Mottram is locational in origin, meaning it was first taken by people who lived in or near a specific place. The name is derived from the village of Mottram in Longdendale, which is located in the county of Cheshire in England. In Old English, the name likely refers to a settlement near a meeting place or a crossroads. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family had migrated from their ancestral northern roots to establish a presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that the family was well-settled in York by 1665, a year famously marked by the Great Plague. During this time, families like the Mottrams were often involved in the local trade and civic life that defined the city as a major northern hub.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mot-rum
A clearing or open space located near a meeting place.
This name
MottramDerived from a locational surname referring to a settlement near a meeting place in Cheshire.
also spelled
Mottramme
Related arms
Mottershedsimilar arms
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. Parish Register Transcripts (York Diocese). 1665
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cinquefoilHope and joy
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cinquefoilHope and joy
