A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Biston family of England.
Reg. 8251 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
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)
“Sa. on a bend betw. six crosses crosslet fitchée or, a mullet of the field surmounted by a fleur-de-lis of the second”
LincolnBelton · Lincoln, c. 1568
Where the Biston Arms Were Recorded
Lincoln
Map of England showing where the Biston arms are recorded
The Biston arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1568.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Biston 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 Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Biston Family in England
The family name Biston has deep roots in the historic city of Lincoln, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1568. During the sixteenth century, Lincoln was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families like the Bistons were often part of the growing urban middle class. The name itself likely originated as a locational surname, which was a common practice in medieval England when people moved from smaller villages to larger towns. By settling in a significant place like Lincoln, the early Biston family members were likely involved in the local cloth trade or other skilled crafts that defined the city’s economy during the Tudor period. Over the following centuries, the family name became firmly established within the region, reflecting the steady growth and movement of families across the English landscape during the late Renaissance.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Biset
Derived from the Old French word for a greyish-brown dove.
This name
BistonA locational or nickname-based surname originating from Anglo-Norman settlers in England.
also spelled
Byston
Bystone
Related arms
BROWNLOW, last Duke of Ancaster and Marquess of Lindsey)recorded with Biston, same area
Custrecorded with Biston, same area
Eyrerecorded with Biston, same area
Haselwoodrecorded with Biston, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Lincolnshire Archives, Lincoln Consistory Court Wills, 1568
Foster, C. W., Lincoln Wills: Volume I, 1914
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
