A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eldred family of England.
Reg. 1405 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Or, on a bend ragulée sa. three bezants”
SuffolkSuffolk, c. 1592
Where the Eldred Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Eldred arms are recorded
The Eldred arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1592.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Eldred 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 Eldred Family in England
The name Eldred is rooted in Old English, originating from the personal name Ealdræd, which combines the words for "old" and "counsel." By the time the family was firmly established in the county of Suffolk in 1592, the name had evolved from a given name into a hereditary surname. During this period, the Eldreds were part of the rural gentry and merchant classes who helped shape the local economy of East Anglia. Many members of the family were involved in the wool trade and agriculture, which were the primary industries of the region at the time. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the social fabric of Suffolk, serving in local parish roles and managing land holdings that were passed down through generations. Their presence in the area reflects the broader movement of families who transitioned from simple village life to becoming influential figures in their local communities during the late sixteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ealdræd
Old English elements meaning old or ancient and counsel or advice.
This name
EldredAn ancient name signifying a wise counselor or one who provides old counsel.
also spelled
Eldrid
Eldread
Eldrett
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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
