A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cranfield family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4926 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au pal d'azur, ch. de trois fleurs-de-lis du champ. Cq. cour. C.: une tête d'antelope d'or. S.: deux antelopes héraldiques d'or. D.: DIFFICILIA QUÆ PULCHRA.”
Francec. 1674
Where the Cranfield Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Cranfield arms are recorded
The Cranfield arms were recorded in France, c. 1674.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Cranfield arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Cranfield Family in France
The history of the Cranfield name in France is deeply tied to the coastal region of Bretagne, where records confirm family members were established by 1674. During this period, the name likely emerged as a localized variation of names common to the northwestern provinces of France, reflecting the movement of people across the English Channel. Families in this area often lived as skilled laborers or merchants who relied on the busy maritime trade routes connecting French ports to neighboring countries. Because Bretagne maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic identity, the family name evolved within a society that valued strong community ties and regional loyalty. By the late 17th century, the Cranfield name was already part of the complex social fabric of the region, marking the family as participants in the long history of migration and settlement along the French coast.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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. on a pale az. three fleurs-de-lis of the first”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cranfield Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cranfield arms are recorded
The Cranfield 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 France when the Cranfield 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 Cranfield Family in England
The family name Cranfield is a locative surname, which means it likely originated from a specific place name in England. Etymologists suggest the name is derived from Old English words referring to a field frequented by cranes, the large wading birds common in marshy English landscapes. While the name has roots in various parts of the country, historical records confirm that members of the Cranfield family were well-established in the city of York by 1620. During this period, York was a vital northern hub for trade and administration, and families living there were often involved in the city’s influential merchant guilds or local government. As the family moved through the seventeenth century, they became part of the social fabric of northern England, contributing to the local economy and the steady growth of the region’s population during a time of significant social change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crane and Feld
A bird of the heron family and an open field or clearing.
This name
CranfieldAn open area of land frequented by cranes or a location named for the bird.
also spelled
Cranfelde
Cranfeld
Kranfeeld
Cranfyld
Cranfeild
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Fonds de la juridiction de Rennes)
Gautier, Michel, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
