Map of England showing where the Ledyard arms are recorded
The Ledyard arms were recorded in Cirencester, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
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 Ledyard 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 England.
Origin & History of the Ledyard Family in England
The Ledyard family name is believed to have originated in England, with historical records placing members of the family in the city of York by the year 1620. The name likely evolved from a locative surname, which was a common practice in medieval England where families were identified by the specific village or geographic feature where they resided. While the exact linguistic roots are debated, the name follows a pattern of English surnames that were established during a period of increasing social mobility and record keeping. By the early seventeenth century, the Ledyards were integrated into the local life of York, participating in the trade and community structures typical of that era. This period marked a time of significant transition, as families began to solidify their identities and move beyond their local origins to eventually seek new opportunities in the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hlēo-weard
Old English elements meaning shelter or protection and guardian or keeper.
This name
LedyardA locational surname derived from a place name meaning a protected enclosure or guarded settlement.
also spelled
Ledyard
Ledyarde
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wolfReward from long service and hard work
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wolfReward from long service and hard work
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
