A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gafford family of England.
Reg. 5152 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
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, a cross lozengy sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gafford Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gafford arms are recorded
The Gafford 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 Gafford 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 Gafford Family in England
The family name Gafford is rooted in the history of Northern England, with early records placing members of the family in the city of York as far back as 1620. During the seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families like the Gaffords often worked as skilled tradespeople or local merchants. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older occupational or locational surnames that evolved as families moved between rural villages and growing urban hubs. By settling in a major administrative center like York, these early ancestors likely participated in the vibrant civic life of the region during a time of significant social change in England. As the family grew, their presence in such a prominent city helped establish the name within the local community, eventually allowing it to spread as members sought new opportunities in other parts of the country and beyond.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaf-ford
A ford crossing located near a boundary or a specific enclosure.
This name
GaffordRefers to a person who lived near a river crossing associated with a specific landmark or boundary.
also spelled
Gafford
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
