Map of France showing where the Arfin arms are recorded
The Arfin arms were recorded in Bourgogne, c. 1663.
Bourgogne was one of the richest parts of France, built on wine, wool and the roads that carried both. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region filled with armed families earlier than most of the country.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Arfin arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bourgogne.
Origin & History of the Arfin Family in France
The history of the Arfin family in France finds its earliest documented roots in the region of Bourgogne during the mid-seventeenth century. By 1663, records place members of this family within the social and economic landscape of this historic province, which was famous for its agricultural output and influence in the French kingdom. During this era, families in Bourgogne often lived in tight-knit rural communities where they contributed to the local economy through farming or skilled trade. The name likely developed as a localized identifier, helping to distinguish specific lineages as populations began to grow and move between villages. Because Bourgogne served as a major crossroads for trade and travel in France, the Arfin family would have been part of a society shaped by both regional traditions and the shifting political power of the French monarchy. Their presence in the area during this time suggests they were established residents who participated in the daily life and administrative record-keeping of their local parishes.
Meaning of the Arfin family crest colors & symbols
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. a cross ancred ar”
Englandc. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Arfin arms are recorded
The Arfin 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 France when the Arfin 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 Arfin Family in England
The history of the Arfin family in England is rooted in the northern city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living by the year 1620. During the early 17th century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious transition, placing the family in a region defined by its deep medieval heritage and its role as a northern administrative hub. Families in this area often lived near the city walls or within the shadow of the great Minster, where local parish registers served as the primary method for tracking births, marriages, and deaths. As the Arfin name appears in these early records, it suggests the family was part of the established urban population that navigated the social and economic shifts of the Stuart period. By maintaining a presence in such a historically significant city, the early Arfins were likely connected to the local craft guilds or the mercantile networks that fueled the growth of northern England during this era.
Arfin Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Arfinus
A Latinized form derived from the word for a boundary or limit.
This name
ArfinRefers to someone who lived near a border or a defined territorial edge.
also spelled
Arpyn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Côte-d'Or, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
