A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Danford family of England.
Reg. 1671 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Bendy of six gu. and or, a chief az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Danford Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Danford arms are recorded
The Danford 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 Danford 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 Danford Family in England
The surname Danford is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place where the family lived. It is believed to be a variation of the name Danforth, which combines the Old English words for a valley and a river crossing. By the year 1620, members of the Danford family were well-established in the historic city of York, England. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in local commerce or skilled crafts. The name suggests that the earliest ancestors likely resided near a river ford in a low-lying area, which served as a vital point for travel and communication in the English countryside. As the family grew, the spelling of the name evolved slightly, eventually becoming the version used by the descendants who would later carry the name across the Atlantic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dan + ford
A Danish person and a shallow river crossing.
This name
DanfordRefers to a person living near a river crossing associated with Danish settlers.
also spelled
Danforth
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., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, York City Archives: House Books, 1620
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
