A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Delafosse family of England.
Reg. 5198 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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 chevronels betw. as many mullets or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Delafosse Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Delafosse arms are recorded
The Delafosse 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 Delafosse 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 Delafosse Family in England
The name Delafosse is of French origin, literally translating to "of the ditch" or "of the moat," which suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a defensive trench or a natural depression in the landscape. While the name is deeply rooted in French history, members of the family established a presence in York, England, as early as 1620. During this period, many families with French surnames moved across the English Channel to seek new opportunities or to escape religious tensions in their home country. These early settlers in York integrated into the local community, often working as skilled tradespeople or merchants. Over time, the family name became a permanent part of the local history in Northern England, reflecting the broader movement of people who helped shape the cultural and economic life of the region during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fosse
A ditch, trench, or moat derived from the Latin word fossa.
This name
DelafosseIndicates someone who lived near a ditch, trench, or defensive fortification.
also spelled
Delafors
Related arms
Delafors, or Delahoysevariant spelling
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of York, 1620
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mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
