Map of England showing where the Ledford arms are recorded
The Ledford arms were recorded in Warwick, c. 1620.
Warwickshire lay in the middle of England, and its landed families were spread evenly across it rather than gathered in one corner. A great many held a single manor each, and each of those holdings brought its own claim to 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 Ledford 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 Warwick.
Origin & History of the Ledford Family in England
The surname Ledford is a locational name that originated in England, specifically referring to people who lived near a river crossing. The name is derived from the Old English words "hlid," meaning a slope or a gate, and "ford," which describes a shallow place in a river where one could walk or ride across. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Ledford family were established in the town of Warwick. During this period, Warwick was a significant market town known for its historic castle and its role in regional trade. Families living in such areas often took their surnames from the specific landscape features near their homes. As these early ancestors moved through the English countryside, they carried this name with them, eventually passing it down through generations as a permanent family identifier.
Ledford Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Hlidge-ford
A river crossing located near a slope or hillside.
This name
LedfordDerived from a locational surname referring to someone living by a ford near a slope.
also spelled
Ludeford
Lutford
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Warwickshire County Record Office. Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
