Duffin Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Duffin family of England.

Reg. 8713 · English, D–F

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Where the Duffin Arms Were Recorded

Middlesex
Map of England showing where the Duffin arms are recorded

The Duffin arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1620.

Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.

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.

Region
Middlesex
Town
Wapping
First recorded
1620

Granting Authority for the Duffin Arms

Arms of College of Arms
College of Arms Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Authority

College of Arms

1484-present

The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.

Portrait of James VI and I
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period

James VI and I

1603–1625

Reigning in England when the Duffin 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 Middlesex.

Origin & History of the Duffin Family in England

The surname Duffin is believed to have roots in the Gaelic language, likely originating from the Irish name Ó Duibhín, which translates to a descendant of the little dark one. While the name has deep connections to Ireland, members of the family were firmly established in Middlesex, England, by the early seventeenth century. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this region, suggesting that the family had migrated or expanded across the Irish Sea during a period of significant social and political movement. During this era, families with the name Duffin often worked as farmers or tradespeople, contributing to the local economy of the English countryside. Their transition from Ireland to the bustling outskirts of London highlights the mobility of families during the seventeenth century as they sought new opportunities in growing urban centers.

Related Branches & Arms

Root word
Dubh

A Gaelic term meaning dark or black.

This name
DuffinDerived from a nickname for a person with dark hair or a dark complexion.
also spelled
Duffen
Related arms
Rainborowerecorded with Duffin, same area

Documented Sources

Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884

MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985

The National Archives, Kew. Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, PROB 11

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