Map of England showing where the Meadowcroft arms are recorded
The Meadowcroft arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1664.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in England when the Meadowcroft 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Meadowcroft Family in England
The Meadowcroft surname is a classic example of a locative name, which means it was originally derived from a specific place where a family lived. The name is composed of two Old English words: "mæd," meaning meadow, and "croft," which refers to a small, enclosed piece of farmland. This suggests that the first people to use the name were likely tenant farmers or landowners who resided near a distinct meadow enclosure. By the year 1664, records confirm that the family was well-established in the county of Lancashire. During this period, the region was undergoing significant social and economic shifts, and families like the Meadowcrofts were often tied to the local agricultural landscape. Because the name describes a physical setting rather than a specific person, it likely emerged independently in different parts of the English countryside before becoming firmly rooted in the historical records of Lancashire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
maedwe and croft
Old English for meadow and a small enclosed field or farm.
This name
MeadowcroftRefers to a person who lived near a meadow located by an enclosed field or farm.
also spelled
Medowcroft
Meadocroft
Meadowcraft
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
