A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hickford family of England.
Reg. 5647 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Az. on a fess betw. three leopards' faces ar. as many pellets”
WorcesterWorcester, c. 1620
Where the Hickford Arms Were Recorded
Worcester
Map of England showing where the Hickford arms are recorded
The Hickford arms were recorded in Worcester, c. 1620.
Worcestershire was orchard and farming country with a scattering of old manors. Its gentry were middling rather than great, but a manor was a manor, and holding one was what brought 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 Hickford 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 Worcester.
Origin & History of the Hickford Family in England
The surname Hickford is a locative name, which means it likely originated from a specific place or geographical feature where early family members resided. By the year 1620, records confirm that the Hickford family was established in the city of Worcester, England. During this period, Worcester was a bustling center of trade and religious importance, situated along the River Severn. Families living in this region were often involved in the local wool trade or agricultural work, which defined the economic life of the West Midlands. As the name spread through the region, it became tied to the local history of Worcestershire, reflecting the movement and growth of families in post-medieval England. The name itself likely evolved from Old English roots describing a ford, or a shallow river crossing, near a settlement associated with a person named Hick or Richard.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hick + Ford
A diminutive of Richard combined with a shallow river crossing.
This name
HickfordRefers to a person living near a river crossing associated with a man named Richard.
also spelled
Hickforth
Hickfurd
Related arms
Higfordvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, Parish Registers of the Diocese of Worcester, 1620
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