During the Middle Ages surnames were first used in order to distinguish between numbers of people bearing the same christian name. As taxation, under William The Conqueror, who invaded England in 1066, became the law, documentation became essential, and names were chosen from a man's trade, his father's name, some personal physical characteristic, or from his place of residence. In the case of the name ATFIELD it was a locational name meaning 'the dweller at the fields' from residence nearby. The earliest of the name on record appears to be Richard ATE FELD, who was recorded in County Oxford in the year 1273, and Linto ATE FELD, was recorded there in 1279. John ATTEFELD of Yorkshire, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. Surnames derived from placenames are divided into two broad categories; topographic names and habitation names. Topographic names are derived from general descriptive references to someone who lived near a physical feature such as an oak tree, a hill, a stream or a church. Habitation names are derived from pre-existing names denoting towns, villages and farmsteads. Other classes of local names include those derived from the names of rivers, individual houses with signs on them, regions and whole countries. Later instances of the name include John ATTFEILD and Elizabeth Hall, who were married in Westminster, London in the year 1675, and James ATTFIELD and Mary Colburn were wed at St. George's, Hanover Square, London in 1785. In the Middle Ages heraldry came into use as a practical matter. It originated in the devices used to distinguish the armoured warriors in tournament and war, and was also placed on seals as marks of identity. As far as records show, true heraldry began in the middle of the 12th century, and appeared almost simultaneously in several countries of Western Europe. The associated coat of arms is recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884. The dolphin in heraldry seems originally to have conveyed an idea of Sovereignty. The first of the Troubadors was called the Dauphin or Knight of the Dolphin, from the bearing of that figure on his shield. The Dolphin appears to have been employed on early Greek coins as an emblem of the sea. Vespasian had medals struck with a dolphin entwining an anchor, in token of the naval superiority of Rome. Dolphin in Archaeology is the emblem of swiftness, diligence and grace.