Map of England showing where the Highfield arms are recorded
The Highfield arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Highfield 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 York.
Origin & History of the Highfield Family in England
The family name Highfield is a locative surname, meaning it was originally adopted by people who lived near a specific geographical feature. In Old English, the name combines "high," referring to elevated ground, and "field," which described an open area of cleared land. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Highfield family were living and working within this historic northern English hub. During this period, York was a center for trade and religious life, and families like the Highfields were often involved in the local merchant guilds or skilled crafts that kept the city running. As the name spread from its rural origins to urban centers, it became a permanent identifier for families who traced their roots back to these distinct, high-lying plots of land.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
heah and feld
Old English for high or elevated and open land or field.
This name
HighfieldRefers to someone who lived on or near a high-lying area of open pasture or cleared land.
also spelled
Hyghfield
Highfeild
Hyghefield
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
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for the City of York, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
