Map of England showing where the Oram arms are recorded
The Oram 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 Oram 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 Oram Family in England
The family name Oram is primarily of English origin and is often linked to the Old English word "oram," which refers to a bank or a shore. During the early seventeenth century, the family established a notable presence in the historic city of York. By 1620, records indicate that members of the Oram family were active participants in the local community, likely working in trade or agriculture as was common for families in the North of England at that time. Because York was a major center for commerce and religious life, these early ancestors were situated in a hub that connected them to the broader social and economic shifts of the Stuart period. Over the following decades, the family name spread from these northern roots into other parts of the country, maintaining a quiet but consistent presence in English parish registers and local administrative documents.
Oram Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Or
Old English word meaning a boundary, edge, or river bank.
This name
OramA topographic name for someone who lived near a river bank or boundary.
also spelled
Oramme
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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