Map of England showing where the Bodiford arms are recorded
The Bodiford 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 Bodiford 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 Bodiford Family in England
The surname Bodiford is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, where it likely originated as a topographical name for a family living near a specific river crossing. The name is composed of two Old English elements that suggest a dwelling place located by a ford, which was a shallow area of a river that could be crossed on foot or by carriage. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Bodiford family were established in the historic city of York. During this era, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, placing the family in a region defined by its ancient Roman foundations and its growing importance in the seventeenth century. As the family moved through these early generations, the name evolved alongside the shifting dialects of the English language, eventually settling into its modern spelling as the family expanded across the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bodeford
A river crossing or ford associated with a person named Boda.
This name
BodifordDerived from a locational surname referring to a specific ford belonging to an individual named Boda.
also spelled
Badyford
Badyforde
Baddiford
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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
