Map of England showing where the Litchfield arms are recorded
The Litchfield arms were recorded in England, 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 Litchfield 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 Litchfield Family in England
The surname Litchfield is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the ancient city of Lichfield in Staffordshire, England, which was historically known as Liccedfeld. The name itself combines the Old English words for a corpse or a body with the word for an open field. By the early 17th century, families carrying this name had begun to spread across England, including a notable presence in York by 1620. During this period, individuals with the surname were often recorded in local parish registers as they moved from rural areas into growing urban centers to pursue new trades. These early Litchfields were part of a mobile population that helped shape the social and economic landscape of northern England during the transition into the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Licit-feld
A grey or corpse field derived from Old English words.
This name
LitchfieldRefers to a person who lived near a field associated with a Roman burial ground.
also spelled
Lytchfield
Related arms
Lichfieldvariant spelling
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. Archbishop of York Diocesan Records: Parish Registers of York
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
swordJustice, and military honour
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
cross symbolChristian faith and service
swordJustice, and military honour
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
