A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Akroyd family of England.
Reg. 1708 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Az. a chev. and in base a stag's head erased arg. on a chief of the last two stags' heads erased of the field”
YorkBankfield · York, c. 1620
Where the Akroyd Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Akroyd arms are recorded
The Akroyd arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Akroyd 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 York.
Origin & History of the Akroyd Family in England
The surname Akroyd is a locational name that originated in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It is derived from the Old Norse words "akr," meaning field or acre, and "rod," which refers to a clearing in a forest. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely farmers or settlers who cleared woodland to establish their homesteads. By the early 17th century, the family had become well-established in the York area, where records confirm their presence by 1620. During this period, the family was deeply integrated into the local community, living through a time of significant social and agricultural change in Northern England. As the name spread, it evolved through various spellings such as Ackroyd and Akeroyd, reflecting the local dialects and the way names were recorded by clerks at the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ac-rod
Old Norse for oak tree and Old English for a clearing.
This name
AkroydA topographical surname referring to someone who lived by a clearing in an oak forest.
also spelled
Akeroyd
Ackroyd
Related arms
Ackroyd, or Ackeroydvariant spelling
Akeroydvariant 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
Smith, Albert Hugh, The Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire, 1961
York City Archives, Parish Registers of St. Michael le Belfrey, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
