Map of England showing where the Schofield arms are recorded
The Schofield arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1582.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Schofield 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 Schofield Family in England
The surname Schofield is a classic example of a locational name, which means it was originally adopted by families living near a specific geographic feature. The name is derived from the Old English words "scoh," meaning a shed or a small shelter, and "feld," which referred to an open piece of land or a clearing. By the time the family was firmly established in Lancashire during the late 16th century, the name had become a way to identify individuals based on their proximity to a particular farmstead or field. Records from 1582 confirm that the Schofields were active participants in the local community of Lancaster, where they likely worked as farmers or tradespeople. Over the generations, the spelling of the name evolved as it was recorded by local clerks, eventually settling into the common form we recognize today. This transition from a simple description of a home site to a permanent family name reflects the way many English surnames were formed during the Middle Ages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sceaga and feld
Old English terms for a thicket or copse and an open land.
This name
SchofieldA topographical name for someone who lived near a clearing in a wooded area.
also spelled
Schofield
Scofeld
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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bullValour and generosity
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bullValour and generosity
