Map of England showing where the Pickford arms are recorded
The Pickford 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 Pickford 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 Pickford Family in England
The surname Pickford is of English origin and is classified as a locational name, meaning it was likely derived from a specific place where the family first resided. The name is composed of two Old English elements: "pic," which refers to a pointed hill or a sharp peak, and "ford," which describes a shallow place in a river that could be crossed on foot. By the time members of the Pickford family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already been established for several centuries in various parts of England. Families during this period often moved toward growing urban centers like York to pursue trade and commerce. As the family settled in the region, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of the city during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
pic-ford
A river crossing located near a pointed hill or peak.
This name
PickfordRefers to a person who lived by a ford near a sharp or pointed geographical feature.
also spelled
Pykford
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
