A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crowfoot family of England.
Reg. 7354 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
ravenConstancy and divine providence
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Or, two chevronels az. betw. three ravens sa. on a canton of the second a staff erect of the first entwined with a snake ppr”
EnglandBeccles, c. 1620
Where the Crowfoot Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Crowfoot arms are recorded
The Crowfoot arms were recorded in Beccles, 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 Crowfoot 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 Crowfoot Family in England
The surname Crowfoot is a descriptive name that likely originated in England during the Middle Ages. It belongs to a category of surnames known as nicknames, which were often given to people based on their physical traits, habits, or personal characteristics. In this case, the name may have been inspired by the shape of a person's feet or perhaps their gait, as the term refers to the three-pronged shape of a bird's foot. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Crowfoot family were living in this historic northern hub, where they participated in the local social and economic life of the city. As residents of York, they would have been part of a vibrant community shaped by trade, religious shifts, and the long-standing traditions of one of England’s oldest urban centers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crawe and Fot
Old English words for a bird and a lower limb.
This name
CrowfootA descriptive nickname for someone with a gait or physical characteristic resembling a crow's foot.
also spelled
Crowfote
Crowefote
Related arms
Asseyrecorded with Crowfoot, same area
Carrrecorded with Crowfoot, same area
Dashwoodrecorded with Crowfoot, same area
Farrerecorded with Crowfoot, same area
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 Probate Records
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
ravenConstancy and divine providence
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
ravenConstancy and divine providence
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
