Map of England showing where the Scaife arms are recorded
The Scaife arms were recorded in Newcastle-on-Tyne, 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 Scaife 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 Scaife Family in England
The surname Scaife is of Old Norse origin, derived from the word *skeifr*, which translates to "askew" or "crooked." Historically, this name likely functioned as a descriptive nickname for an individual who walked with a limp or possessed a physical deformity. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York, where records confirm their residence by 1620. During this era, the Scaife family members were often involved in the trade and craft guilds that defined the economic life of Northern England. As the name spread from its Scandinavian roots through the northern counties, it became deeply embedded in the local culture of Yorkshire, reflecting the long history of Norse settlement in that region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
skeggr
Old Norse term for a beard.
This name
ScaifeA nickname for a man with a prominent or distinctive beard.
also spelled
Scafe
Skaife
Skafe
Related arms
Scafevariant spelling
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, 1997
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
