A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Garforth family of England.
Reg. 0157 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. a bend betw. six goats pass. ar”
YorkYork, c. 1620
Where the Garforth Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Garforth arms are recorded
The Garforth arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Garforth 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 York.
Origin & History of the Garforth Family in England
The name Garforth is a classic example of a locative surname, which means it originated from a specific place rather than a person’s trade or personal trait. The name is derived from the village of Garforth, located in the West Riding of Yorkshire. In Old English, the name likely combines the word "gara," meaning a triangular piece of land, with "ford," referring to a river crossing. By the early 17th century, the family had established a firm presence in the city of York, as evidenced by records from 1620. During this era, families often took the name of their ancestral village when they moved to larger urban centers to distinguish themselves from others. As the family settled in York, they became part of the growing merchant and professional classes that defined the city’s social landscape during the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gara ford
A muddy or swampy river crossing point.
This name
GarforthRefers to a settlement located near a muddy ford or crossing.
also spelled
Garfort
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, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for the West Riding of Yorkshire
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
