Map of England showing where the Benefield arms are recorded
The Benefield arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1620.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 Benefield 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 Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Benefield Family in England
The surname Benefield is a topographical name that likely originated from individuals who lived near a specific type of open field or meadow. In Old English, the name is derived from words meaning a bean field, suggesting that the earliest ancestors were farmers who cultivated legumes on communal lands. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the county of Middlesex, England. During this period, Middlesex served as a vital hub of activity surrounding London, which allowed families to participate in the growing trade and administrative life of the region. As the family grew, their presence in such a central location helped them integrate into the evolving social structures of seventeenth-century England, eventually leading to their migration and expansion across different territories.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bene-feld
Derived from the Old English words for bean and open land.
This name
BenefieldRefers to someone who lived near or cultivated a field of beans.
also spelled
Benfeild
Benfyld
Benfelde
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
The National Archives, Middlesex Sessions Records: Indictments, 1620
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
