A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ackroyd family of England.
Reg. 2308 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Per saltire or and az. on a saltire betw. four fleurs-de-lis an annulet all counterchanged”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Ackroyd Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Ackroyd arms are recorded
The Ackroyd 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 Ackroyd 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 Ackroyd Family in England
The surname Ackroyd is a locational name that originated in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It is derived from the Old Norse word "akr," meaning an acre or a field, and the Old English word "rod," which refers to a clearing in a forest. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family were likely farmers or settlers who cleared woodland to establish a homestead. By the early 17th century, the family was firmly established in the region, with records confirming their presence in York by 1620. Over time, the name evolved through various spellings such as Akeroyd and Akroyd, reflecting the local dialects of Northern England. The family remained closely tied to the landscape of Yorkshire for generations, often living in small rural communities where they contributed to the local agricultural economy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
acern-rod
Old English for oak tree and a clearing or forest glade.
This name
AckroydA topographical name for someone who lived in a clearing within an oak forest.
also spelled
Ackroide
Ackrode
Related arms
Akeroydvariant spelling
Akroydvariant spelling
Arkroydvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Hey, David, Family Names and Family History, 2000
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Records of the Parish of Halifax, WDP53
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
