A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chesterfield family of England.
Reg. 5652 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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. a fesse dancettée or, in chief three fleurs-de-lis of the second”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Chesterfield Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Chesterfield arms are recorded
The Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield Family in England
The surname Chesterfield is a locative name, meaning it originated from people who lived in or came from a specific place. The name is derived from the town of Chesterfield in Derbyshire, which combines the Old English word "ceaster," meaning a Roman fort or walled city, with "feld," meaning an open land or field. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established themselves in the historic city of York. Records confirm their presence there by 1620, suggesting that the family had migrated from their ancestral roots to participate in the growing trade and civic life of Northern England. During this period, families often moved to major urban centers like York to seek new professional opportunities, and the Chesterfield name became part of the city’s social fabric as these individuals integrated into the local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ceaster and feld
Old English for a Roman fort and an open area of land.
This name
ChesterfieldA habitational name referring to a settlement located near a Roman fort or camp.
also spelled
Chesterfeild
Chesterfyld
Chesterfelde
Chesterfild
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, Percy H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
