Map of England showing where the Lyford arms are recorded
The Lyford 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 Lyford 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 Lyford Family in England
The Lyford family name is rooted in the geography of medieval England, specifically originating from a small village in Berkshire called Lyford. The name is locational, meaning that early ancestors likely adopted it to identify themselves as people who came from that specific settlement. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established themselves in the historic city of York. Records confirm that Lyfords were present in York by 1620, where they lived as part of the local community during a time of significant social and religious change in England. As the century progressed, some members of the family sought new opportunities across the Atlantic, carrying their name and heritage to the American colonies. This transition from a localized English village name to a presence in major cities like York helped shape the family identity before their eventual expansion into the wider world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ford
A shallow place in a river where one can cross.
This name
LyfordRefers to a person who lived near a river crossing associated with flax or a clearing.
also spelled
Liford
Lifford
Related arms
Lifford, Viscountvariant spelling
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. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
