A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bamforth family of England.
Reg. 9338 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. a fesse engr. gu”
DerbyDerby, c. 1620
Where the Bamforth Arms Were Recorded
Derby
Map of England showing where the Bamforth arms are recorded
The Bamforth arms were recorded in Derby, c. 1620.
Derbyshire had lead mines in its hills and good grazing in its valleys. Both made steady money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names into the heraldic records.
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 Bamforth 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 Derby.
Origin & History of the Bamforth Family in England
The surname Bamforth is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the Old English words "bamt," referring to a tree, and "ford," which describes a shallow river crossing. This suggests that the earliest ancestors lived near a river crossing marked by a prominent tree. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Bamforth family were well-established in Derby. During this period, families often took their names from the local geography of their home villages in the north of England before migrating to growing towns like Derby for work in trade or local administration. Because the name is tied to the landscape, it reflects a deep connection to the rural English countryside where the family first settled centuries ago.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
beam ford
A river crossing located near a tree or wooden structure.
This name
BamforthDerived from a topographic location referring to a crossing point by a tree.
also spelled
Bamford
Bamfurth
Related arms
Bamfordvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Derbyshire Record Office, Derby St Alkmund Parish Register, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
