A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barefoot family of England.
Reg. 9100 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
legStrength and swiftness
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Gu. on a fesse vert, three men's feet couped ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Barefoot Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Barefoot arms are recorded
The Barefoot 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 Barefoot 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 Barefoot Family in England
The surname Barefoot is a descriptive name that likely originated as a nickname in medieval England. During this period, people were often given surnames based on their physical traits, habits, or social status. A person might have been called Barefoot because they were known for walking without shoes, perhaps due to poverty or as part of a religious vow of humility. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Barefoot family were well-established in the city of York. At that time, York was a major center for trade and religion, and families like the Barefoots were deeply integrated into the local community. Over the following decades, these early settlers helped shape the history of the region before many of their descendants eventually traveled across the Atlantic to build new lives in the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Barfot
Old Norse and Old English words for bare and foot.
This name
BarefootA descriptive nickname for someone who habitually went without shoes or footwear.
also spelled
Barfoot
Barefote
Barfote
Related arms
Barfootvariant spelling
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
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
legStrength and swiftness
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
legStrength and swiftness
