A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Castleford family of England.
Reg. 5446 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. a chev. betw. three castles gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Castleford Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Castleford arms are recorded
The Castleford 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 Castleford 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 Castleford Family in England
The surname Castleford is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or personal characteristic. It is derived from the town of Castleford in West Yorkshire, which sits at the confluence of the Aire and Calder rivers. The name itself combines the Old English word "ceaster," meaning a Roman fort or town, with the word "ford," referring to a shallow river crossing. By the early 17th century, members of the family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, and families living there often held positions within the local merchant guilds or the church. As the family moved away from the town of Castleford, they kept the name as a way to identify their ancestral origins, eventually carrying the title into the urban records of York by 1620.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Castellum and Ford
Latin for fortress or castle and a shallow river crossing.
This name
CastlefordRefers to a settlement located at a river crossing near a Roman fort.
also spelled
Castelford
Castleforth
Castelforth
Related arms
Castelfordvariant 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
Hey, David. Family History and Local History in England. 2005
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
York City Archives, Freemen of the City of York Registers
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
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
