Map of England showing where the Stanford arms are recorded
The Stanford arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1619.
Leicestershire was grazing country, and wool and cattle made steady money rather than spectacular fortunes. Steady money bought manors, and manors are what brought families into the registers.
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 Stanford 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 Leicester.
Origin & History of the Stanford Family in England
The name Stanford is a locational surname, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place rather than a family trade or personal trait. The name is derived from the Old English words "stan," meaning stone, and "ford," meaning a shallow river crossing. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to use the name lived near a stony crossing point in a river. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in Leicester, as evidenced by records from 1619. During this period, families often adopted these geographic names to distinguish themselves from others in the same village or town. As the family grew and moved throughout England, the name remained a permanent reminder of the physical landscape where their earliest history began.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
stan and ford
Stony ground and a shallow river crossing.
This name
StanfordA person who lived near a stony river crossing.
also spelled
Stonford
Stainford
Related arms
Stamfordvariant spelling
Staunfordvariant spelling
Dingleyrecorded with Stanford, same area
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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
The National Archives, Leicestershire Visitations, 1619
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
