Map of England showing where the Stansfield arms are recorded
The Stansfield arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Stansfield 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 York.
Origin & History of the Stansfield Family in England
The surname Stansfield originates from the West Riding of Yorkshire and is classified as a locative name, meaning it was derived from a specific place. The name itself combines the Old English words "stan," meaning stone, and "feld," meaning an open field or clearing. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a stony field or a piece of land cleared of rocks for farming. By the early 17th century, the family had firmly established roots in the York region, where they participated in the local social and economic life of the city. As the family grew, they became part of the regional identity of Yorkshire, reflecting the transition of English surnames from simple descriptions of geography into permanent family identifiers that were passed down through generations.
Stansfield Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Stanfeld
A stony open area of land.
This name
StansfieldDerived from a location in Yorkshire meaning a field characterized by stony soil.
also spelled
Stansfeld
Stansfeild
Stansfild
Related arms
Stansfeldvariant spelling
Bridgemanrecorded with Stansfield, same area
Cooperrecorded with Stansfield, same area
Dabernonrecorded with Stansfield, 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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1960
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
