A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Drakeford family of England.
Reg. 4838 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a chev. betw. three eagles displ. sa”
StaffordStafford, c. 1620
Where the Drakeford Arms Were Recorded
Stafford
Map of England showing where the Drakeford arms are recorded
The Drakeford arms were recorded in Stafford, c. 1620.
Staffordshire was mixed country of moorland, farmland and early ironworking. Its landed families were spread widely rather than concentrated, and each holding brought its own claim to 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 Drakeford 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 Stafford.
Origin & History of the Drakeford Family in England
The surname Drakeford is a locative name, which means it was originally taken from a specific place. Historical evidence confirms that the family was well-established in the town of Stafford, England, by the year 1620. The name itself likely describes a river crossing, or a ford, that was associated with dragons in local folklore or perhaps a place where a person named Drake once lived. During the early seventeenth century, the Drakefords were active members of the community in Staffordshire, where they were often recorded in parish registers and local legal documents. As the family grew, they became deeply rooted in the social and economic life of the region, transitioning from their origins at a small river crossing to becoming a recognized name within the English Midlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Draca and Ford
Old English for dragon and a shallow river crossing.
This name
DrakefordA habitational name referring to a river crossing frequented by or associated with a dragon.
also spelled
Drakford
Drakefurd
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Staffordshire Record Office, Stafford St Mary’s Parish Registers, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
