Map of England showing where the Crutchfield arms are recorded
The Crutchfield 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 Crutchfield 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 Crutchfield Family in England
The Crutchfield family name is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, where it likely originated as a topographic surname. The name is composed of the Old English words "crycc," meaning a crook or a staff, and "feld," referring to an open field or pasture. This suggests that the earliest individuals to carry the name were likely people who lived near a crooked field or perhaps a piece of land shaped like a staff. By the year 1620, members of the family were well-established in York, a city with a deep history dating back to Roman times. During this period, the family would have been part of the local community in Northern England, likely working in trades or agriculture as the city continued to serve as a vital regional hub. As the seventeenth century progressed, the family expanded their reach, eventually moving across the Atlantic to participate in the early colonial settlements of North America.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
cruc and feld
Old English for a cross or crouch and an open field.
This name
CrutchfieldA dweller in an open field near a cross or a crouched piece of land.
also spelled
Crutchfield
Crutchfild
Crutchfelde
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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
