A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Archard family of England.
Reg. 8259 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, a bend engr. sa”
KentCrays · Kent, c. 1620
Where the Archard Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Archard arms are recorded
The Archard arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Archard 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Archard Family in England
The surname Archard has deep roots in the English county of Kent, where records confirm the family was well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the Old French name Archard, which eventually evolved from Germanic roots meaning brave or hardy. During the 1600s, families in Kent were often tied to the land through farming or local trade, and the Archards were likely part of this industrious rural community. As the family grew, they became a fixture of the local landscape, contributing to the social and economic life of the region during a time of significant change in England. By 1620, the name was already recognized within local parish registers, which served as the primary way for families to document their presence and history in their home villages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hard
A Germanic element meaning brave, hardy, or strong.
This name
ArchardDerived from a compound name meaning brave or strong ruler.
also spelled
Archart
Archerd
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Everitt, Alan. Continuity and Colonization: The Evolution of Kentish Settlement. 1986
Kent History and Library Centre, Parish Registers of Kent, Series P/201
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
