A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beauford family of England.
Reg. 8490 · 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”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Beauford Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Beauford arms are recorded
The Beauford 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 Beauford 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 Beauford Family in England
The surname Beauford is rooted in the French language, where it translates to beautiful ford, suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a scenic or significant river crossing. While the name has deep continental origins, members of the family were firmly established in the historic city of York by 1620. During this period, York was a major center for commerce and religion in Northern England, and families living there often played active roles in the local guilds or parish life. As the name moved across borders and generations, it evolved in spelling and pronunciation, yet it maintained its connection to the landscape that first defined it. By settling in a city as ancient as York, the early Beauford family became part of a long tradition of urban life that helped shape the social fabric of the region during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beau Fort
Beautiful or fair fort or stronghold.
This name
BeaufordDerived from a place name in Normandy meaning beautiful fortress.
also spelled
Beaufort
Related arms
Beaufortvariant spelling
Beawfordvariant 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, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
