A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Harfield family of England.
Reg. 7527 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Per pale ar. and gu. three lions' paws erased counterchanged”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Harfield Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Harfield arms are recorded
The Harfield arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
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 Harfield 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 England.
Origin & History of the Harfield Family in England
The Harfield family name is rooted in the landscape of northern England, with historical evidence placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name likely originated as a topographical surname, which was a common way for people to identify themselves based on the specific land where they lived. It is composed of two Old English elements, with "har" often referring to a boundary or a grey-colored area, and "field" describing an open stretch of land. By the seventeenth century, families in York were often involved in the city’s vibrant trade and craft guilds, which served as the economic heart of the region. As the Harfield name became established in this historic urban center, it reflected the transition of a family moving from rural land management into the growing professional life of a major English city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hara and feld
Old English for a grey or hare-colored open land or field.
This name
HarfieldRefers to a person who lived near an open stretch of land frequented by hares.
also spelled
Harefield
Harfeild
Harfyld
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
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
