A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Scurfield family of England.
Reg. 2525 · English, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Barry of six sa. and or, per pale counterchanged”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Scurfield Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Scurfield arms are recorded
The Scurfield 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 Scurfield 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 Scurfield Family in England
The Scurfield family name is deeply rooted in the history of Northern England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name itself is thought to be topographical or locational in origin, likely derived from Old English or Old Norse elements that described the specific landscape where the first family members lived. During the seventeenth century, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, which suggests that the early Scurfields were likely integrated into the professional or merchant classes of the region. As the family grew, they established a lasting presence in the North East, particularly within County Durham and Northumberland. Over time, the name became closely associated with the industrial development of these areas, reflecting a transition from local landholders to active participants in the coal and shipping trades that defined the northern economy for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
scir-feld
Old English for bright or clear open land.
This name
ScurfieldDerived from a topographic location referring to a bright or clear field.
also spelled
Scurfeild
Scurfill
Scurfild
Related arms
Clarkerecorded with Scurfield, same area
Clerkerecorded with Scurfield, same area
Freelingrecorded with Scurfield, same area
Wyclifferecorded with Scurfield, same area
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., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Probate records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, Series Y/BR
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
