Map of England showing where the Medford arms are recorded
The Medford 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 Medford 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 Medford Family in England
The surname Medford is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place in England. The name is composed of two Old English elements: "med," meaning meadow, and "ford," referring to a shallow place in a river that could be crossed by foot or cart. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived near a meadow located by a river crossing. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Medford family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and administration in Northern England, and families living there were often involved in the city’s bustling merchant guilds or local government. As the family grew, the name became a permanent identifier for those who traced their roots back to these early English settlements.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Maed-ford
Old English for a river crossing near a meadow.
This name
MedfordA habitational name referring to a ford located by a meadow or pasture.
also spelled
Medforth
Metford
Related arms
Metfordvariant 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 House Books (B series), 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
