A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blachford family of England.
Reg. 9946 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
bordureA difference between branches of one family
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Barry wavy of six, or and gu. on a chief az. three pheons of the first, a bordure wavy erm”
SurreySurrey, c. 1620
Where the Blachford Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Blachford arms are recorded
The Blachford arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 Blachford 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Blachford Family in England
The surname Blachford is rooted in the landscape of southern England, specifically within the county of Surrey where the family was well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name itself is topographical in origin, likely derived from Old English words describing a dark or black ford, which suggests that the earliest ancestors lived near a specific river crossing marked by deep, murky water or dark stones. By 1620, the Blachfords were active members of the local community in Surrey, participating in the social and economic life of the region during a time of significant transition in English history. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local parish systems, which served as the primary method for recording births, marriages, and deaths. These early records illustrate a family that was deeply connected to the land and the rural traditions of their home county, establishing a legacy that would persist for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Blaec Ford
Old English words for dark or black and a river crossing.
This name
BlachfordA topographic name for someone who lived near a dark-colored river crossing.
also spelled
Blachfurd
Blachfard
Related arms
Blatchfordvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Gover, J.E.B., Mawer, A., and Stenton, F.M., The Place-Names of Surrey, 1934
Surrey History Centre, Parish Registers of Surrey, 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.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
bordureA difference between branches of one family
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
bordureA difference between branches of one family
