A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ditchfield family of England.
Reg. 6759 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
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 pine-apples or, stalked gu”
LancasterDitton · Lancaster, c. 1567
Where the Ditchfield Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Ditchfield arms are recorded
The Ditchfield arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1567.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Ditchfield 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 Ditchfield Family in England
The family name Ditchfield originates from the historic county of Lancashire in North West England. It is a locational surname, which means it was likely adopted by people who lived near a specific geographic feature or a small settlement known as Ditchfield. The name itself is derived from the Old English words for a ditch or a trench and a field, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived near a prominent drainage ditch or a boundary marker on agricultural land. By the year 1567, records confirm that the Ditchfield family was well-established within the region, particularly around the areas of Warrington and Prescot. During this period, members of the family were typically involved in local farming or trade, contributing to the growth of the rural communities that defined the Lancashire landscape during the sixteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dic + Feld
A ditch or trench and an open area of land.
This name
DitchfieldA person who lived near a ditch or a trench in an open field.
also spelled
Dytchfield
Ditchfeild
Dytchfeild
Related arms
Dichfieldvariant spelling
Dychfieldrecorded with Ditchfield, same area
Hillrecorded with Ditchfield, 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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
Lancashire Archives, Bishop’s Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1567
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
