A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Atfield family of England.
Reg. 8235 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Per chev. erm. and sa. (another ar. and sa.) in chief two dolphins of the second”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Atfield Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Atfield arms are recorded
The Atfield 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 Atfield 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 Atfield Family in England
The family name Atfield is a topographical surname, which means it was originally used to describe where a person lived. In Middle English, the name translates to someone who lived "at the field," likely near an open stretch of land or a clearing in a forest. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Atfield family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families living there were often involved in local crafts or merchant guilds. Because the name is rooted in the landscape of the English countryside, it suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or laborers who eventually moved into the city to seek new opportunities. Over the centuries, the name evolved from a simple description of a person's home into a permanent family identity that was passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aethelfeld
Old English elements meaning noble and open land or field.
This name
AtfieldDerived from a topographic location referring to a noble person's field or clearing.
also spelled
Atfeild
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
