A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Billington family of Ireland.
Reg. 6942 · Irish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Quarterly, az. and gu. on a saltire engr. or, five fleurs-de-lis sa”
DublinDublin, c. 1696
Where the Billington Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Billington arms are recorded
The Billington arms were recorded in Dublin, c. 1696.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Ireland when the Billington arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Dublin.
Origin & History of the Billington Family in Ireland
The surname Billington is an English locative name, meaning it originally identified people who lived in a specific place called Billington. These settlements were typically located in counties like Lancashire or Bedfordshire, where the name translates to the estate or farm belonging to the followers of a man named Billa. While the family has deep roots in England, records confirm that members of the Billington family were established in Dublin by 1696. During this period, families often moved across the Irish Sea for trade, military service, or administrative roles within the British administration. These early Dublin residents likely integrated into the professional and merchant classes of the city, helping to anchor the family name in Irish history for centuries to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Billing
Old English patronymic referring to the followers or kin of Billa.
This name
BillingtonRefers to the settlement or farmstead belonging to the kin of Billa.
also spelled
Byllyngton
Billingdon
Related arms
Billingdonvariant 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
Mills, Anthony David, A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1991
National Archives of Ireland, Prerogative and Diocesan Wills, 1696
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
