Coat of Arms & Family Crests Store
  Wingfield Coat of Arms / Wingfield Family CrestThe surname of WINGFIELD was a locational name 'of Wingfield' parishes in counties Suffolk and Derby. Local names usually denoted where a man held his land, and indicated where he actually lived. The name was derived from the Old English word 'Wigingafeld'. Early records of the name mention Wingefeld (without surname) 1035 County Suffolk. Edward Wingfeild Esq, was buried under the gallery at Kensington Church, London in the year 1674. Henry Wingfeild and Mary Bunby were married at St. Mary, Aldermary, London in 1703. The name is also spelt Winfield. The small villages of Europe, or royal and noble households, even large religious dwellings and monasteries gave rise to many family names, which reflected the occupation or profession of the original bearer of the name. Following the Crusades in Europe in the 11th 12th and 13th centuries a need was felt for an additional name. This was recognized by those of gentle birth, who realised that it added prestige and practical advantage to their status. At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield, and embroidered on his surcoat, the draped and flowing garment worn over the armour. The rise of surnames, according to the accepted theory, was due to the Norman Conquest of 1066 when Old English personal-names were rapidly superseded by the new christian names introduced by the Normans. Of these, only a few were really popular and in the 12th century this scarcity of christian names led to the increasing use of surnames to distinguish the numerous individuals of the same name. Some Normans had hereditary surnames before they came to England, but there is evidence that surnames would have developed in England even had there been no Norman Conquest. The development of the feudal system made it essential that the king should know exactly what service each person owed. Payments to and by the exchequer required that debtors and creditors should be particularized, and it became official that each individual acquired exact identification. The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884. |
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