Map of England showing where the Washam arms are recorded
The Washam arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
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 Washam 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 Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Washam Family in England
The Washam family name is deeply rooted in the early colonial history of Virginia, with records confirming their presence in the Gloucester County area as early as 1620. During this period, the region was a rugged frontier where settlers faced significant challenges while establishing tobacco plantations along the banks of the York and Severn Rivers. The name likely evolved from Old English topographical roots, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived near a specific wash or a shallow stream that served as a local landmark. As these families settled into the Tidewater region, they became part of the foundational social structure of the Virginia Colony. They lived through the transition from the early settlement days to the more established agricultural society that defined the seventeenth century. By remaining in the Gloucester area for generations, the Washam family helped shape the local community through their involvement in early land development and regional governance.
Washam Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Waes-ham
Old English words for a muddy or watery homestead.
This name
WashamDerived from a locational surname referring to a settlement situated near a marsh or muddy area.
also spelled
Wysham
Wyshamm
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Nugent, Nell Marion. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1666. 1934
Virginia State Library. Gloucester County Colonial Records, 1651-1720
Mason, Polly Cary. Records of Colonial Gloucester County, Virginia. 1946
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
