Map of England showing where the Tatham arms are recorded
The Tatham 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 Tatham 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 Tatham Family in England
The surname Tatham is locational in origin, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place name in Lancashire, England. The name itself is derived from Old Norse and Old English roots, likely referring to a homestead or enclosure belonging to a person named Tata. By the time members of the Tatham family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already been established in northern England for several centuries. These early families were often connected to the rural landscapes of the north, where they worked as landowners or tradespeople. As the family moved into cities like York during the seventeenth century, they integrated into the growing urban economy, shifting from agricultural roots to the diverse professional life of a bustling regional center. This transition reflects the broader movement of families during the early modern period as they sought new opportunities in England’s expanding towns.
Tatham Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Tata
An Old English personal name likely meaning cheerful or glad.
This name
TathamRefers to a homestead or enclosure belonging to a person named Tata.
also spelled
Tathum
Tathome
Tathim
Related arms
Phelpsrecorded with Tatham, same area
Vanderguchtrecorded with Tatham, same area
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’s Diocesan Records
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dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
