Map of Ireland showing where the Kilford arms are recorded
The Kilford arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Kilford arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Kilford Family in Ireland
The name Kilford is rooted in the landscape of the British Isles, likely originating as a topographic surname for a family living near a specific river crossing or ford. By 1645, records confirm that members of the Kilford family were established in Dublin, Ireland. This period was a time of significant political upheaval, as the Irish Confederate Wars reshaped the social and economic landscape of the city. Families living in Dublin during the mid-seventeenth century often navigated complex shifts in land ownership and governance. The presence of the Kilford name in these early civic records suggests that the family was part of the urban merchant or administrative class that helped sustain the city during this turbulent era. Through their continued presence in the capital, the family became woven into the long history of Dublin’s development as a center of trade and administration.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cill Fhord
Old Irish for church and Old Norse for a river crossing.
This name
KilfordRefers to a settlement or dwelling located near a church and a ford.
also spelled
Kelfurd
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654–1656
Hardy, Philip Dixon, The Dublin Penny Journal, 1832
Gilbert, John T., A History of the City of Dublin, 1854
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
lionCourage, strength and royalty
