Map of England showing where the Handfield arms are recorded
The Handfield 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 Handfield 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 Handfield Family in England
The family name Handfield originates from the English landscape, likely serving as a topographic identifier for people who lived near a specific field. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Handfield family were well-established in the county of Kent. During this period, Kent was a hub of agricultural activity and trade, which allowed families to put down deep roots in local parishes. The name suggests that early ancestors were likely farmers or landholders who were tied to the rhythms of the countryside. As the seventeenth century progressed, these early settlers contributed to the social and economic fabric of the region, helping to define the local community through their work and family connections.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hande-feld
Old English words for a cultivated plot of land or field.
This name
HandfieldRefers to a person who lived near or worked on a specific open area of land.
also spelled
Handfeild
Handfild
Handfyeld
Related arms
Blagdonrecorded with Handfield, same area
Bullockrecorded with Handfield, same area
Hallrecorded with Handfield, same area
Jemmetrecorded with Handfield, same area
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
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry of Canterbury Wills and Administrations, PRC 32
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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