A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crockford family of England.
Reg. 3214 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
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. three trefoils slipped or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Crockford Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Crockford arms are recorded
The Crockford 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 Crockford 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 Crockford Family in England
The surname Crockford is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people based on the place where they lived. The name is derived from Old English roots, likely referring to a ford located near a crock or a pot-making site. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Crockford family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England. Families living there often worked as skilled artisans or merchants who contributed to the city's growing economy. As the family moved and expanded throughout the seventeenth century, they carried this connection to their northern roots with them, helping to preserve the history of the name across different regions of England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Croc
Old Norse name meaning hook or curved object.
This name
CrockfordA dweller by a ford associated with a person named Croc.
also spelled
Crockforth
Crockeford
Crokford
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, Percy Hide and Wilson, Richard Middlewood, A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
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trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
