A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coffield family of England.
Reg. 5251 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 saltire sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Coffield Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Coffield arms are recorded
The Coffield 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 Coffield 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 Coffield Family in England
The surname Coffield is believed to have originated in England, where it functioned as a topographical name for people living near a specific type of field or enclosure. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Coffield family were firmly established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major center for commerce and religion, and families living there were often involved in the city’s thriving trade guilds or local administration. As the name spread throughout the region, it likely evolved in spelling due to the way local clerks recorded names phonetically in parish registers. This early presence in York suggests that the family was part of a stable, settled community during a time of significant social change in Northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cof-feld
Old English elements meaning a hollow or cave and an open land.
This name
CoffieldA dweller in an open field located near a hollow or small valley.
also spelled
Coffeld
Cofeld
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. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of the City of York, 1620
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saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
