Map of England showing where the Broadfield arms are recorded
The Broadfield 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 Broadfield 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 Broadfield Family in England
The surname Broadfield is a locative name, which means it was originally used to describe people who lived near a wide, open expanse of land. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Broadfield family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity in Northern England. Families with this name likely worked as farmers or laborers who tended the large, unfenced fields surrounding the city walls. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the daily life and commerce of the region. This connection to the landscape suggests that the name served as a simple way to identify individuals by their proximity to the broad fields that defined the local geography of their home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bradfeld
Old English words for broad and open land or field.
This name
BroadfieldA topographic name for someone who lived near a wide or expansive field.
also spelled
Broadfield
Brodfeld
Broadfeld
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
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of York
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
