A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cofield family of England.
Reg. 2706 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Gu. a fleur-de-lis erm”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cofield Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cofield arms are recorded
The Cofield 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 Cofield 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 Cofield Family in England
The family name Cofield has deep roots in the northern English city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. The name is believed to be locational in origin, likely derived from a specific field or small settlement known as a "cofe" or "cove" field. During the seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families like the Cofields were often involved in the local merchant guilds or skilled crafts that defined the city’s economy. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the local community through their work and daily lives. While many families in this region were tied to the land, the Cofield name reflects a history of people who were well-established in the urban environment of York during a time of great change in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Col-feld
A combination of the Old English words for charcoal and open land.
This name
CofieldRefers to a person who lived near a clearing used for charcoal production.
also spelled
Cofeld
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Baines, Edward, History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York, 1822
The Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Palliser, D. M., Tudor York, 1979
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fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
