A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Enfield family of England.
Reg. 8715 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
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)
“Gu. an inescutcheon or, an orle of eight martlets ar”
EssexEssex, c. 1620
Where the Enfield Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Enfield arms are recorded
The Enfield 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 Enfield 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 Enfield Family in England
The surname Enfield is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or personal trait. It is derived from the town of Enfield, which was historically located in the county of Middlesex, though the family’s roots eventually spread into the neighboring county of Essex. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Enfield family were well-established residents of Essex. During this period, the name was often associated with families who held land or worked in agriculture within the rural parishes of the region. As people began to move more frequently for trade and better opportunities, the name transitioned from being a label for someone from a specific town to a hereditary surname passed down through generations. This evolution reflects the broader movement of English families who sought to build stable lives in the fertile landscapes of eastern England during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eanfeld
Old English for open land belonging to a person named Eana.
This name
EnfieldDerived from a place name meaning cleared land or a field.
also spelled
Endfield
Related arms
Endfieldvariant spelling
Enestfieldvariant spelling
Eynfieldvariant spelling
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
Essex Record Office, Quarter Sessions Rolls, 1620
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
