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Fulford Heraldry

Blazon of Arms:Sable, a chevron between three heads' erased argent mussled gules.
Translation:The heraldic colour sable (black) denotes Constancy.
Argent (white) signifies Peace and Sincerity.
Gules (red) denotes Military Fortitude and Magnanimity.
Crest:A bear's head erased sable, mussled or.
Motto:Bear up.
Origin:England

     The English surname Fulford is of local origin, deriving from the name of the dwelling place or locality where a bearer once lived. In this instance, the name can be traced to the townships of the same name scattered throughout the English countryside, the most significant being those in Devon, Somerset, Staffordshire, and East York. All so called from OE ful (dirty, muddy) + ford.
     During the Middle Ages it was common practice to identify a man with the area from which he hailed and to refer to him in this manner. At this time too, surnames were becoming commonplace, however the modern structured system of hereditary names had not yet evolved. People therefore adopted those names by which they were locally known. Early instances of the name were generally prefixed with "de" meaning "of"; a preposition used to denote surnames of local origin.
     The first recorded instance of the name occurs in the Hundred Rolls, a document drawn up in London in 1273; one William de Foleford in Devon is registered therein. There are also numerous instances of this surname in the Rolls drawn up during the reign of King Edward 111 (1327-77); one Walter de Fuleford and one Thomas de Fulford are registered therein. The London Commercial Directory of 1870 lists seven instances of the name whilst the Philadelphia Directory of 1885 includes only one family of this surname.
     A number of bearers of this name are descended from William de Fulford, who held the manor of Great Fulford, near Exeter, in the reign of Richard I (1189 - 99). The family seat is still there.
     Modern variants of the name include Fullford and Fulforth.


There seems to be a number of variations to the family crest. Some are given below.
FULFORD (Vns. Devon 1564 and 1620). Quarterly,
1. Gules, a chevron argent (Fulford);
2. Argent, on a bend sable, three bears' heads erased of the first, muzzled of the second (FitzUrse);
3. Argent, a chevron between three moorcocks sable (Moreton);
4. Or, on a bend gules, three crosses moline argent (Belston);
5. Azure, three bird-bolts erect in fesse argent (Bozum);
6. Argent, a lion rampant gules, a chief azure (St. George);
7. Gules, a bend engrailed azure between three leopards' faces jessant-de-lys or (Dennis);
8. Ermine on a cross gules, five bezants (St. Aubyn);
9. Gules, two bars between an orle of martlets argent (Challons).

Mantling gules and argent.

Crest - On a wreath of the colours, a bear's head ersased sable, muzzled or.

Motto - "Bear Up"

Fulford of Fulford - Norman origin - ancient family of England.


Armorial Families - A Directory of Gentlement of Coat-Armors compiled and edited by Arthur Charles Fox-Davis.

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