A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Becton family of England.
Reg. 2741 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. three spade irons or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Becton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Becton arms are recorded
The Becton arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 Becton 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 England.
Origin & History of the Becton Family in England
The family name Becton is rooted in the landscape of Northern England, with historical records confirming the presence of the family in the city of York by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a locational surname, which was a common practice in medieval England where individuals were identified by the specific village or manor they inhabited. Etymologically, the name is believed to derive from Old English elements referring to a stream or a brook, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived near a distinct water source. By the early seventeenth century, members of the Becton family were established as part of the local community in York, a city that served as a major hub for trade and administration. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, participating in the daily life and economic activities of the North Riding of Yorkshire during a period of significant transition in English history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beccatun
Old English for a farmstead or settlement belonging to Becca.
This name
BectonDerived from a locative surname referring to a specific settlement or farmstead in England.
also spelled
Beckton
Bekton
Related arms
Becktonvariant spelling
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
