A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barnfield family of England.
Reg. 4775 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Or, on a bend gu. three mullets ar. an annulet sa. for diff”
SalopNewport · Salop, c. 1620
Where the Barnfield Arms Were Recorded
Salop
Map of England showing where the Barnfield arms are recorded
The Barnfield arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1620.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Barnfield 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Barnfield Family in England
The surname Barnfield is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place or piece of land. In Old English, the name likely describes a field used for storing grain or a piece of land near a barn. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in the county of Salop, which is also known as Shropshire. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were living in this region during the reign of King James I. At that time, families in rural areas like Salop were often tied closely to the land they farmed. Because the name is descriptive, it is possible that different branches of the family adopted the name independently after living near prominent barns or agricultural fields in the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bere and Feld
Barley or woodland and an open area of cleared land.
This name
BarnfieldRefers to a person who lived near a field where barley was grown or near a woodland clearing.
also spelled
Barnefield
Bernfield
Barnfeild
Related arms
Bassettrecorded with Barnfield, same area
Benbowrecorded with Barnfield, same area
Billinghurstrecorded with Barnfield, same area
Blountrecorded with Barnfield, same area
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
Shropshire Archives, Shropshire Parish Registers: Diocese of Lichfield, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
