Map of Britain showing where the Gyffard arms are recorded
The Gyffard arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Gyffard arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Gyffard Family in Britain
The name Gyffard is a variation of the name Giffard, which originated in Normandy before spreading across England. The name is derived from a nickname meaning "chubby-cheeked" or "generous," and it was brought to Britain by families who held significant land and social status during the medieval period. By the year 1700, records show that members of the family had established themselves in the county of Kent. During this era, families in Kent were often involved in local agriculture, trade, or the administration of parish affairs. As the name evolved over centuries, the spelling shifted from the original Norman form to the version found in your family history. This transition reflects how surnames often changed as families moved between different regions and as literacy standards became more consistent over time.
Gyffard Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Giffard
Derived from the Germanic word meaning chubby or fat-cheeked.
This name
GyffardA descriptive nickname for a person with plump or rounded cheeks.
also spelled
Giffart
Gyffard
Jifard
Gifard
Gifford
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
Kent Archives, Quarter Sessions Records, Q/S
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