A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berton family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3929 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or au chev. de sa., ch. de trois croisettes d'or; à la bord. comp. de gu. et d'herm.; aux 2 et 3 de sa. à la tour d'arg. Sur le tout d'herm. à la bande d'arg., ch. de trois alérions de sa. (ou. le 1er quartier, sans écartelures, ni surtout.)”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Berton Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Berton arms are recorded
The Berton arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Berton arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Berton Family in France
The family name Berton has deep roots in the French region of Lyonnais, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. The name itself is a variation of the ancient Germanic name Bert, which translates to bright or famous. During the seventeenth century, families in the Lyonnais area were often tied to the land and the bustling trade networks centered around the city of Lyon. As the region served as a major hub for silk production and commerce, the Berton family likely participated in the local economy as skilled craftspeople or merchants. Because the name was relatively common throughout France, it appeared in various parish registers as families moved between rural villages and the growing urban centers of the province. By settling in this historic region, the early Bertons became part of a long tradition of French provincial life that valued community ties and steady labor.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Erm. on a saltire sa. a rose or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Berton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Berton arms are recorded
The Berton 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 France when the Berton 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 Berton Family in England
The surname Berton likely originated as a topographical name, describing someone who lived near a barton, which was an Old English term for a farmyard or a plot of land attached to a manor house. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were living in this region, which was a major center for trade and administration in Northern England at the time. Because York was a hub for merchants and skilled laborers, it is probable that the early Bertons were involved in the local agricultural economy or the city’s thriving craft guilds. As the family settled into urban life, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the growth and development of the city during a period of significant change in English history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berht
A Germanic element meaning bright, famous, or illustrious.
This name
BertonDerived from a diminutive form of names containing the element bright, signifying a famous or brilliant person.
also spelled
Bertton
Bertonni
Barton
Burton
Bertonne
Related arms
Bartonvariant spelling
Beartonvariant spelling
Birtonvariant spelling
Burtonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil du Rhône
Bouchard, Gérard, Quelques arpents d'Amérique: Population et économie du peuplement français en Amérique du Nord, 1996
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
