A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Delafield family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2342 · Irish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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, a lion ramp. gu. armed and langued az. charged on the shoulder with a trefoil slipped of the field”
DublinCulduff · Dublin, c. 1607
Where the Delafield Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Delafield arms are recorded
The Delafield arms were recorded in Dublin, c. 1607.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Ireland when the Delafield arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Dublin.
Origin & History of the Delafield Family in Ireland
The Delafield family name first appears in Irish historical records during the early seventeenth century, specifically within the bustling urban environment of Dublin in 1607. While the name itself has roots that trace back to the Norman influence in England, its arrival in Ireland marked the beginning of a long period of integration into the social and economic fabric of the Pale. During this era, members of the family were typically involved in the administrative and merchant classes that defined Dublin life under the early Stuart monarchy. They navigated a landscape shaped by shifting land ownership and the complex political loyalties of the time. By establishing themselves in the capital, the Delafields became part of a growing community of settlers who helped bridge the cultural gap between the English administration and the local Irish population. Their presence in the city during this formative century highlights the role of families who moved across the Irish Sea to seek new opportunities in trade and governance.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. a cross pattée or”
LancasterLancaster, c. 1620
Where the Delafield Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Delafield arms are recorded
The Delafield arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Ireland when the Delafield 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Delafield Family in England
The surname Delafield is a locative name, which means it originally described a person who lived near a specific open space or field. While the name eventually became associated with various regions, historical records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in the county of Lancaster by 1620. During this period, the family lived in a landscape defined by the shifting social and economic changes of seventeenth-century England. As the name spread through the local population, it became tied to the agricultural and community life of the Lancashire area. The family likely participated in the local trades and parish activities that characterized life in the north of England during the early modern era. By maintaining a presence in Lancaster, these early ancestors helped solidify the name as a recognized part of the regional history before many of their descendants eventually moved to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
de la feld
Old French for of the field
This name
DelafieldA topographic name denoting someone who lived near or worked on an open field.
also spelled
Delafeld
Delafelde
Delafeild
Related arms
Fieldsimilar arms
Offleyrecorded with Delafield, same area
Wolfrecorded with Delafield, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Archives of Ireland, Calendar of the State Papers Relating to Ireland
The National Archives (UK), Chancery Records, Patent Rolls of James I
John D'Alton, The History of the County of Dublin, 1838
John O'Hart, Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, 1892
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
