A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brandford family of England.
Reg. 2776 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Az. on a chev. betw. two eagles rising in chief, and a lion pass. in base or, three sprigs of oak fructed vert”
EnglandLondon, c. 1620
Where the Brandford Arms Were Recorded
London
Map of England showing where the Brandford arms are recorded
The Brandford arms were recorded in London, c. 1620.
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 Brandford 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 Brandford Family in England
The name Brandford is a locational surname that likely originated from a specific place in England, combining the Old English words for a stream and a river crossing. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in London, a city that served as a bustling hub for trade and social mobility during the early seventeenth century. During this era, families with the name were often involved in the city’s growing merchant class, taking advantage of the proximity to the Thames to participate in the expanding maritime economy. As London grew into a global center for commerce, the Brandford family became part of the urban fabric, living and working amidst the rapid changes of the Stuart period. Their presence in the capital suggests they were part of the steady migration of families who moved toward urban centers to seek new professional opportunities in law, trade, and craft guilds.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brandr and ford
Old Norse for sword and Old English for a river crossing.
This name
BrandfordRefers to a person who lived near a river crossing associated with a sword or fire.
also spelled
Branford
Brandforth
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
London Metropolitan Archives, Records of the City of London, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
branchPeace, and new growth
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
branchPeace, and new growth
