Family Crest
The Family Crest symbols;

Broken spear: The specific design of a broken tilting spear, often held by an armored arm, suggests a participant in jousting or combat. The "broken" aspect could signify an honorable end to a joust or a victory.

Armored arm: The embowed, armored arm is a classic heraldic symbol of a warrior or knight.

Crescent moon: A crescent is included in the escutcheon or shield design. Crescents can symbolize a family member who converted to Christianity or were involved in a crusade, while in other contexts they may represent a variety of meanings like a noble birth.

The chevron is also incorporated into the escutcheon. It can represent; Protection and security: The V-shape is associated with the roof of a house, symbolizing protection. Bravery and military service: Historically, it represented a knight's military prowess and was sometimes awarded for capturing a building. Family and leadership: It can denote the "top of the house" and serve as a badge for the head of a clan. Faithful service: It can symbolize a commitment to service.

Annulets: These are the 3 rings, located in the chief or upper portion of the escutcheon which can have various meanings depending on context. They may represent a pledge or a bond as a prelate, which is is a high-ranking member of the Christian clergy such as a bishop. In English and Canadian heraldry it is also used as the difference mark of a fifth son.

The red color or "Gules" which means red in heraldry and has meant red since 1165 at least, in French (where the word is gueules), denotes; Martial fortitude and strength, Military strength as a warrior or martyr and Magnanimity.

The white area with the black designs on the Shield is ermine which represents; Purity and chastity: Ermines were believed to die rather than soil their white winter coat, making them a symbol of purity and incorruptibility. Majesty and nobility: The real fur was used for ceremonial robes of royalty and peers, linking the heraldic symbol to high rank and status. Wisdom: The association with purity and virtue also connected ermine to wisdom and spiritual clarity. Wealth: The expense of the fur made it a symbol of great riches.

ribbon
The Family Motto, "Crescit sub pondere virtus" is Latin, and translates into Virtue thrives beneath oppression
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Welcome to ChapmanFam.org!

We trace our roots back to Lincolnshire and Yorkshire England. The idea of this site is to provide a place where we can share personal and family histories and stories that will bring the generations together and bolster family ties. This website started as an idea I had shortly after my father Steve's passing. I read several histories that were shared on family search;I was fascinated and moved by them. I also noticed that the histories there were rather short and sparse. I was sad that there was so little there about these wonderful people who were my relatives. I also was sad that I could not reach out and ask them questions about what I had read because they were deceased. I decided that the only solution was to figure out a way to encourage the creation of better histories and and provide a way to share them before people died. That way reader’s could ask questions and thereby the histories could be refined and added to, making them much richer and also promoting unity amongst relatives, young and old. It is my hope that you will enjoy reading what is found here with your children and more importantly that you will write your own history and share it with us all. To that end, let me say that in our technologically advanced world it is easier than ever to create a written history. I am not the best at writing or typing, But I can talk! Even as I type this introduction I wish I had availed myself of the benefits I am referring to. I could be done already! With my smart phone for a mic and AI I could have a beautifully composed paragraph and not had to type one letter. But this was more fun and preserved my narrative nature. I think you can get the idea. I look forward to seeing what you have to share. By the way, As I expand this site I will include audio and video options as those record formats are not well served currently on family search.


Yours Truly,
Kenny Chapman

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