Map of France showing where the Wallingford arms are recorded
The Wallingford arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Wallingford arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Wallingford Family in France
The history of the Wallingford name in France is deeply tied to the coastal region of Bretagne, where records confirm family members were established by 1725. While the name itself has roots in the English landscape, its presence in France suggests a period of migration during the early eighteenth century, likely driven by the movement of merchants or families seeking new opportunities across the English Channel. In the context of Bretagne, the family would have integrated into a society defined by its strong maritime traditions and distinct cultural identity. Life in this region during the 1720s involved navigating the complex social structures of provincial France, where the family likely participated in the local economy of the coastal towns. By settling in this specific part of France, the Wallingford line became part of the long history of cross-cultural exchange that defined the relationship between the British Isles and the western provinces of France during the eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. on a fess gu. a lion pass. of the field”
Englandc. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Wallingford arms are recorded
The Wallingford 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 France when the Wallingford 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 Wallingford Family in England
The surname Wallingford is a locational name that originated in the historic town of Wallingford in Berkshire, England. During the medieval period, people often adopted the name of their home village or town to distinguish themselves from others as they moved to new areas. The name itself is derived from the Old English words for a ford, which is a shallow place in a river, and a personal name or tribal group associated with that crossing. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had already been established for several centuries as a way to identify individuals by their ancestral roots. These early families were likely part of the growing movement of people who traveled across England for trade or religious reasons, carrying the name of their original home with them as they settled in northern cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wealh-ford
A river crossing associated with foreigners or Welsh people.
This name
WallingfordDerived from an Old English place name referring to a ford used by strangers or Britons.
also spelled
Walingford
Wallingforde
Wallyngford
Wallinford
Walyngford
Related arms
Bechlersimilar arms
Schilersimilar arms
Wennssimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série B: Cours et juridictions, 1725
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
