A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gilford family of England.
Reg. 1416 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 saltire sa. betw. four martlets az”
KentKent, c. 1620
Where the Gilford Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Gilford arms are recorded
The Gilford arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Gilford 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Gilford Family in England
The surname Gilford is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a locative name for families who lived near a specific river crossing. The name is derived from the Old English words for a gold or yellow-colored ford, suggesting that early ancestors likely resided near a shallow part of a river where the water flowed over sandy or golden-hued soil. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Gilford family were well-established in the county of Kent. During this period, the family was deeply integrated into the local community, likely participating in the agricultural and maritime trades that defined the region. As the family grew, they contributed to the social fabric of southeastern England, leaving behind a legacy tied to the geography of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gyldeford
A golden river crossing or ford.
This name
GilfordDerived from an Old English place name referring to a river crossing associated with golden-colored sand or flowers.
also spelled
Gildford
Guildford
Gylford
Related arms
Gildfordvariant spelling
Guilfordvariant spelling
Gulford, or Guldefordvariant 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 English Surnames, 1991
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury Wills, 1620
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1960
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
