Map of England showing where the Welford arms are recorded
The Welford arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1620.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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 Welford 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Welford Family in England
The family name Welford is a locational surname that originated in England, typically derived from places named Welford in counties like Northamptonshire or Berkshire. The name itself combines the Old English words for a river crossing, known as a ford, and likely a personal name or a descriptive term for a spring. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Hereford. Records confirm that members of the Welford family were living and working in this region by 1620, where they integrated into the local community during a period of significant social and economic change in England. As they settled in Hereford, the family likely participated in the local trades and civic life that defined the city during the Stuart era. This geographic shift from the original ancestral lands to the Welsh borderlands highlights the mobility of families during the early modern period.
Welford Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Wella and ford
A spring or well and a shallow river crossing.
This name
WelfordRefers to a person who lived near a spring or stream crossing.
also spelled
Welfard
Welfurd
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Herefordshire Archives, Hereford City Council Records, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
