Map of England showing where the Hereford arms are recorded
The Hereford arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1620.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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 Hereford 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Hereford Family in England
The family name Hereford is a locative surname, meaning it originated from individuals who lived in or hailed from the city of Hereford in the West Midlands of England. During the medieval period, people often adopted the names of their home towns to distinguish themselves when they traveled or moved to new areas. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established within this historic region. The city itself sits near the border of Wales, a location that historically served as a vital hub for trade and defense. Families carrying this name were likely involved in the local agricultural or mercantile life that defined the borderlands during the seventeenth century. As the family grew and moved, the name traveled with them, serving as a permanent link to their ancestral roots in the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Here-ford
Old English for army or military force and a river crossing.
This name
HerefordA habitational name referring to a ford used by an army.
also spelled
Herford
Related arms
Ereford, or Eresfordvariant spelling
Harefordvariant spelling
Herford, Hereford, or Hurfordvariant spelling
Cleivelandrecorded with Hereford, 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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Herefordshire Archives, Parish Registers of the Diocese of Hereford, 1600–1650
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
