A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Canfield family of England.
Reg. 3424 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cinquefoilHope and joy
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. a fret engr. and in the dexter chief corner a cinquefoil ar”
YorkYork, c. 1620
Where the Canfield Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Canfield arms are recorded
The Canfield arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Canfield 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 York.
Origin & History of the Canfield Family in England
The Canfield family name traces its roots back to the medieval period in England, where it likely originated as a locational surname referring to a specific settlement. By the early 17th century, members of the family were well-established in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this region, which was a major center for trade and religious life at the time. During this era, families often took their names from the landscapes or villages where they resided, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived near a field characterized by a specific feature, such as a clearing or a site used for public gatherings. As the family grew, these individuals participated in the local economy and social structures of northern England before many eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cana-feld
Open land or field belonging to a person named Cana.
This name
CanfieldDerived from Old English words for an open country area or pasture.
also spelled
Canfeld
Canfeild
Canfild
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
York Minster Archives, Parish Registers of York, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cinquefoilHope and joy
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
cinquefoilHope and joy
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
