A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barford family of England.
Reg. 9211 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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. a fret of six engr. erm”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Barford Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Barford arms are recorded
The Barford 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 Barford 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 Barford Family in England
The surname Barford is a locational name, which means it was originally taken from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal trait. The name is derived from Old English words meaning a ford near a barley field or a ford belonging to a person named Bera. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Barford family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major northern hub for trade and administration, and families living there were often involved in the city’s influential merchant guilds or local government. Because the name is tied to geography, it likely emerged independently in several different parts of England where similar river crossings existed. Over time, families who moved from these rural areas into urban centers like York helped to spread the name across the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bereford
Old English words for barley and a river crossing.
This name
BarfordA location-based surname referring to a ford where barley was grown or traded.
also spelled
Bareford
Related arms
Bayrfordvariant spelling
Bearefordvariant spelling
Berfordvariant spelling
Borfordvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
