A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dransfield family of England.
Reg. 6449 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Paly of six sa. and ar. on a bend gu. three mullets or”
EssexEssex, c. 1620
Where the Dransfield Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Dransfield arms are recorded
The Dransfield arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Dransfield 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Dransfield Family in England
The surname Dransfield is a topographic name that originated in the West Riding of Yorkshire, specifically derived from a place known as Dransfield Hill near the village of Honley. The name itself is composed of Old English elements, likely referring to a field belonging to a man named Dran or a field frequented by drones or bees. By the early 17th century, members of the family had migrated away from their northern roots, establishing a notable presence in the county of Essex by 1620. This movement suggests that the family was part of the broader trend of internal migration during the Stuart period, as individuals sought new opportunities in the agricultural and trade-focused regions surrounding London. Over time, the name evolved from a local identifier tied to a specific patch of Yorkshire land into a stable family surname that spread across southern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dranes-feld
A field belonging to a person named Drane or a drainage area.
This name
DransfieldDerived from a locational surname referring to an open land area near a drain or stream.
also spelled
Dransfeild
Dransfild
Dransfyld
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Smith, A.H., The Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire, 1961
Essex Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, Q/SR 228 (1620)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
