A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bedford family of England.
Reg. 4726 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
Colours
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)
“Ar. three lions' gambs couped (another, erased) and erect within a bordure engr. sa”
BedfordHenloe · Bedford, c. 1620
Where the Bedford Arms Were Recorded
Bedford
Map of England showing where the Bedford arms are recorded
The Bedford arms were recorded in Bedford, c. 1620.
Bedfordshire was small, flat farming country close to London. Its manors were held by middling families rather than great ones, but a manor was a manor, and holding one brought 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 Bedford 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 Bedford.
Origin & History of the Bedford Family in England
The surname Bedford is a locational name, meaning it was originally adopted by people who lived in or near the town of Bedford in England. The name itself comes from the Old English words "Beda" and "ford," which together describe a river crossing associated with a person named Beda. By the year 1620, families bearing this name were well-established in the region, often working as farmers or tradespeople who identified themselves by their home territory. As these individuals moved away from their ancestral town for work or travel, they carried the name with them to distinguish their origins. This practice of using a place name as a surname was a common way for families to maintain a connection to their local roots during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beda ford
A personal name Beda combined with a river crossing
This name
BedfordRefers to a river crossing associated with a person named Beda
also spelled
Bedforth
Related arms
Grosvenorrecorded with Bedford, same area
Noyerecorded with Bedford, same area
Paytonrecorded with Bedford, same area
Peytonrecorded with Bedford, same area
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, 1991
Mawer, A. and Stenton, F.M., The Place-Names of Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire, 1926
The National Archives, Parish registers of Bedfordshire, 1600–1650
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
bordureA difference between branches of one family
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
