A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Thiam family of England.
Reg. 0791 · English, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ar. a griffin vert and a lion ramp. az. crowned ar. both combatant, quartering, Chequy or and az. on a bend gu. three lions pass. of the first, for WARREN”
OxfordOxford, c. 1574
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Map of England showing where the Thiam arms are recorded
The Thiam arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1574.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Thiam 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Thiam Family in England
The history of the Thiam name in England is rooted in the academic and social landscape of sixteenth-century Oxford. Records confirm that members of the family were established in the city by 1574, a time when Oxford was a bustling center of trade and intellectual life. During this period, the city served as a gateway for families moving between rural communities and the growing urban environment of the university town. While the name is often associated with West African heritage in modern times, its presence in Elizabethan England suggests a distinct historical branch that integrated into the local parish systems and trade guilds of the era. By living in Oxford during the late 1500s, these early family members were part of a society undergoing significant cultural and religious shifts, leaving behind a legacy that remains a point of interest for those tracing the migration and settlement patterns of early modern families.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Theodoric
Derived from Germanic elements meaning ruler of the people.
This name
ThiamA variant form of the name Theodoric, signifying a leader or governor of the populace.
also spelled
Thamm
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Oxford City Council, Oxford City Archives: Records of the City of Oxford 1509–1783, 1912
Salter, H.E., Surveys and Tokens of Mediaeval Oxford, 1923
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
lionCourage, strength and royalty
