A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gulliford family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Or, two bars gemelles sa”
The Gulliford 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.
Reigning in England when the Gulliford arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Gulliford is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, likely originating as a topographic name for people who lived near a specific river crossing. The name is derived from the Old English words for a gold-colored or yellow ford, suggesting that early ancestors resided close to a stream or riverbed with distinctively colored sediment. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Gulliford family were established in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, placing the family at the heart of a bustling urban center. As the family grew, they integrated into the local community, contributing to the social and economic life of the region through their work and daily interactions. This early presence in York highlights the family's long-standing connection to the history of northern England.
A yellow-colored river crossing or ford.
