A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berford family of England.
Reg. 5170 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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 lion ramp. erm”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Berford Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Berford arms are recorded
The Berford 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 Berford 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 Berford Family in England
The surname Berford is a locational name, meaning it likely originated from a specific place or settlement in England. Historical evidence confirms that members of the Berford family were established in the city of York by the year 1620. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England. Families living in the city at this time were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled trades that supported the city’s economy. Because the name is tied to a geographic location, it suggests that the earliest ancestors moved from a smaller village or a river crossing—often referred to as a "ford"—to settle in the urban environment of York. Over generations, the family name became a permanent fixture in the region as they integrated into the social and professional life of the city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bereford
A river crossing where barley is grown.
This name
BerfordDerived from an Old English place name referring to a ford used for transporting barley.
also spelled
Berforth
Barford
Related arms
Barfordvariant spelling
Berefordvariant spelling
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
