Map of England showing where the Woodford arms are recorded
The Woodford 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 Woodford 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 Woodford Family in England
The surname Woodford is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal trait. The name is composed of the Old English words "wudu," meaning wood, and "ford," meaning a shallow river crossing. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to adopt the name likely lived near a wooded path that crossed a stream or river. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in Leicester. Records from 1619 confirm that members of the Woodford family were active in the region during this period, participating in the social and legal life of the town. Over time, the family name spread from these rural origins to become a recognized part of the local history in the English Midlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wudu and Ford
Old English for wood or forest and a shallow river crossing.
This name
WoodfordRefers to someone who lived near a river crossing located within or by a forest.
also spelled
Woodforth
Wodforth
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
Leicestershire Archives, Records of the Borough of Leicester, 1619
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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