Map of England showing where the Bradfield arms are recorded
The Bradfield arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Bradfield 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Bradfield Family in England
The surname Bradfield is a locational name that originated in England, meaning it was first taken by people who lived in or near a place called Bradfield. The name itself comes from the Old English words "brad," meaning broad, and "feld," meaning an open field or pasture. By the year 1620, families bearing this name were well-established in the county of Norfolk. During this period, families in Norfolk were often deeply connected to the local landscape, working as farmers or tradespeople in the rural villages of East Anglia. Because the name describes a specific type of geography, it likely appeared independently in several different parts of England, as many families took their names from the small towns or clearings where they lived. Over time, these families became part of the local history of Norfolk, contributing to the agricultural and social life of the region long before many of them eventually traveled to the American colonies.
Bradfield Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Brad-feld
Old English words for broad and open land or field.
This name
BradfieldRefers to a person who lived near a wide, expansive meadow or clearing.
also spelled
Bradfeld
Bradfeild
Related arms
Bradfeldvariant 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
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Register Transcripts, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
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chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
