A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dufford family of England.
Reg. 9968 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. a cross engr. or (another, a bendlet ar.)”
SuffolkSuffolk, c. 1620
Where the Dufford Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Dufford arms are recorded
The Dufford arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Dufford 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Dufford Family in England
The Dufford family name traces its roots to the English county of Suffolk, where records confirm members of the family were settled by the year 1620. During this period, Suffolk was a center for agricultural production and trade, and families often took surnames based on their local geography or their specific roles within the community. The name likely evolved from an older place name or a descriptive term used to identify individuals living near a specific river crossing or a distinct forest clearing. As the family established themselves in the region, they became part of the local social fabric, participating in the daily life of rural English parishes. Over the following decades, the name remained tied to the East Anglian landscape before members of the family eventually sought new opportunities across the Atlantic. This migration pattern was common for families of that era who were looking to establish their own landholdings in the growing colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dufford
Derived from the Old English words for dark ford or river crossing.
This name
DuffordA habitational name referring to someone who lived near a dark or murky river crossing.
also spelled
Duffard
Duffarde
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Suffolk Record Office, Parish Registers of Suffolk, 1620
The National Archives, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
