A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fullford family of England.
Reg. 8550 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. a chev. betw. three millrinds sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Fullford Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Fullford arms are recorded
The Fullford arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Fullford 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 England.
Origin & History of the Fullford Family in England
The surname Fullford is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from the Old English words "full," meaning dirty or muddy, and "ford," which refers to a shallow crossing point in a river. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name lived near a muddy stream or a river crossing that was difficult to navigate. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, families in York were often deeply involved in the local trade guilds and the civic life of the city. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Northern England, transitioning from their rural roots near river crossings to becoming active participants in the urban development of one of England’s most historic cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fulla and Ford
A personal name meaning full or crowded and a river crossing.
This name
FullfordA location-based surname referring to a river crossing associated with a person named Fulla.
also spelled
Fulforde
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. Archbishop of York Diocesan Records
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
