A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bonton family of England.
Reg. 8660 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Or, a lion ramp. double queued az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Bonton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Bonton arms are recorded
The Bonton 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 Bonton 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 Bonton Family in England
The Bonton name has roots that trace back to the historic city of York in the early seventeenth century. By 1620, families bearing this name were already established within the region, living during a time when York served as a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England. The name itself likely evolved from descriptive terms used to identify individuals based on their character or their place of residence. During this era, families in York were often deeply connected to the local parish system, which recorded their births, marriages, and daily contributions to the community. As these early ancestors navigated the social shifts of the Stuart period, they helped weave the Bonton name into the local history of Yorkshire. Their presence in such a prominent city suggests they were part of the hardworking population that supported the growth of the region during a century of great political and social change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bunton
A settlement or enclosure belonging to a person named Bunt.
This name
BontonDerived from a locational surname referring to a specific farmstead or village.
also spelled
Bonten
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers
Palliser, D. M., Tudor York, 1979
Raine, A., York Civic Records, 1939
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
