A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Banford family of England.
Reg. 2956 · 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”
LincolnDonyngton · Lincoln, c. 1620
Where the Banford Arms Were Recorded
Lincoln
Map of England showing where the Banford arms are recorded
The Banford arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1620.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Banford 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 Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Banford Family in England
The surname Banford is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. Etymologically, the name is rooted in Old English, likely combining the words for a bean field or a boundary stream with the word for a river crossing or ford. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Banford family were well-established in the historic city of Lincoln. During this period, Lincoln served as a vital regional hub for trade and administration, suggesting that the family was likely integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes. As the family moved through the seventeenth century, they remained part of the social fabric of Lincolnshire, contributing to the growth and daily life of the city as it navigated the turbulent political landscape of early modern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bean-ford
A river crossing located near a field of beans.
This name
BanfordDerived from Old English words for bean and ford, denoting a crossing point near bean cultivation.
also spelled
Bamford
Banforth
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., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of British Place-Names, 2003
Lincolnshire Archives, Lincoln Consistory Court Wills and Inventories
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of Lincoln
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
