A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Scourfield family of Britain.
Reg. 2689 · Britain, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 éc. en saut. de sa. et de gu.; à trois lévriers courants d'arg., coll. d'or, l'un sur l'autre, br. sur le tout (Scourfield); aux 2 et 3 d'arg. treillissé d'azur; au lion de sa., coll. d'une couronne de chêne d'or,”
Britainc. 1700
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Map of Britain showing where the Scourfield arms are recorded
The Scourfield arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Scourfield arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Scourfield Family in Britain
The family name Scourfield is rooted in the landscape of southern England, with records confirming the presence of the family in Kent by the early 1700s. The name itself is topographical, likely derived from Old English terms describing a specific type of terrain, such as a field near a scrubland or a cleared area of brush. During the eighteenth century, families with this surname were often integrated into the local agricultural or trade communities of the region. As the family established itself in Kent, they became part of the social fabric of the English countryside, living through a period of significant economic change. Their early history reflects the typical movement and settlement patterns of families who built their lives around the rural parishes of southeastern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
scur
Old English term for a swift or brisk movement.
This name
ScourfieldA topographical name for someone who lived near a swift-flowing stream or field.
also spelled
Skourfield
Scourfild
Scourfyeld
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
Kent History and Library Centre, Parish Registers of Kent, 1700–1750
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
