A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dunsford family of England.
Reg. 6732 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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. on a piece of ground in base vert a beehive sa. bees volant counter-volant ppr”
DevonTiverton · Devon, c. 1620
Where the Dunsford Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Dunsford arms are recorded
The Dunsford arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought 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 Dunsford 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Dunsford Family in England
The family name Dunsford is a locative surname, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from the village of Dunsford in Devon, England, which sits near the eastern edge of Dartmoor. In Old English, the name likely translates to a ford belonging to a person named Dunn or a ford located near a hill. By the early 17th century, families carrying this name were well-established in the Devon region, living as farmers and local tradespeople who were deeply connected to the rural landscape. These early Dunsfords were part of the local parish communities, where their names began to appear regularly in church registers and legal documents as they settled into the rolling hills of the West Country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dun-ford
A hill or fortified mound located near a river crossing.
This name
DunsfordRefers to individuals who lived near a ford situated by a hill.
also spelled
Dunsforth
Related arms
Dunfordvariant spelling
Barnerecorded with Dunsford, same area
Burridgerecorded with Dunsford, same area
Diamondrecorded with Dunsford, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Gover, J.E.B., Mawer, A., and Stenton, F.M., The Place-Names of Devon, 1931
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Parish Registers for Dunsford, 1600–1650
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.
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
