Map of England showing where the Shams arms are recorded
The Shams arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Shams 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Shams Family in England
The name Shams carries a deep history that stretches back centuries before the family established roots in Essex in 1620. The name itself originates from the Arabic word for sun, which has long been used as a term of reverence and light across the Middle East and Central Asia. As families migrated across trade routes and borders, the name traveled with them, often adopted by scholars, poets, and travelers who valued its connection to brightness and guidance. By the time the family appeared in English records during the early seventeenth century, they were part of a period of significant movement and cultural exchange. Settling in Essex during this era suggests that the family was likely involved in the local agricultural or mercantile life of the region, adapting to a new landscape while maintaining a name with ancient and noble linguistic roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Shams
Arabic word meaning sun or solar light.
This name
ShamsDerived from an Arabic term representing the sun, often used to denote brilliance or radiance.
also spelled
Sammes
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Al-Hamdani, Hassan, Al-Iklil (The Crown), 950
Essex Record Office, Quarter Sessions Rolls, Q/SR 230/45, 1620
Hitti, Philip K., History of the Arabs, 1937
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