A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Corfield family of England.
Reg. 7111 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Erm. on a pale az. a lion ramp. or”
EnglandShrewsbury, c. 1620
Where the Corfield Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Corfield arms are recorded
The Corfield arms were recorded in Shrewsbury, 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 Corfield 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 Corfield Family in England
The surname Corfield is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people based on the place where they lived. Etymologists believe the name derives from Old English roots, likely referring to a field or clearing associated with a person named Cora or a similar early personal name. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Corfield family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, families often moved to major urban centers like York to pursue trade, craftsmanship, or administrative roles within the growing merchant class. As the family settled into city life, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of the region through their professional work and community involvement. This early presence in York suggests that the Corfields were well-integrated into the economic life of Northern England during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
feld
An open area of cleared land or pasture.
This name
CorfieldDerived from a location meaning a field where cranes or similar birds gathered.
also spelled
Corfeild
Corfyld
Corfild
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Hey, David, Family Names and Family History, 2000
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
