A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blithfield family of England.
Reg. 3522 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. a chief gu. in base a bar indented sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Blithfield Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Blithfield arms are recorded
The Blithfield 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 Blithfield 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 Blithfield Family in England
The family name Blithfield originates from a place name in Staffordshire, England, where the village of Blithfield was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Blidefelt. The name itself is derived from Old English words meaning a field near the River Blythe. Over time, families who lived in or near this village began to use the location as their surname. By the early 17th century, members of the family had moved away from their ancestral home and established themselves in the city of York. Records confirm that Blithfield family members were living in York by 1620, likely drawn to the city by its status as a major regional center for trade and administration. This migration reflects the broader movement of English families during the Stuart period as they sought new opportunities in growing urban hubs.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Blith + feld
Old English for cheerful or gentle and an open area of land.
This name
BlithfieldRefers to a person who lived near a pleasant or gentle open field.
also spelled
Blithfeild
Blythfield
Related arms
Blythfieldvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Faull, Margaret L. and Stinson, Marie. Domesday Book: Yorkshire. 1986
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. York Diocesan Probate Records
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
