A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boulton family of England.
Reg. 4691 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. a hawk ar. on a canton or, a garb gu. quartering az. a chev. betw. two fleurs-de-lis in chief and a crab in base or”
SurreyGibbon Grove · Surrey, c. 1620
Where the Boulton Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Boulton arms are recorded
The Boulton arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 Boulton 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Boulton Family in England
The surname Boulton is a locational name, which means it was originally used to identify people who came from a specific place called Bolton. In Old English, this name is derived from the words "bold," meaning a dwelling or house, and "tun," meaning an enclosure or settlement. By the time members of the family were established in Surrey in 1620, the name had already spread across various parts of England as families moved away from their ancestral villages to seek new opportunities. During the seventeenth century, families like the Boultons often lived in rural parishes where they worked as farmers, tradespeople, or skilled craftsmen. Because spelling was not standardized at the time, the name was frequently recorded in parish registers as Boulton, Bolton, or even Bulten depending on how the local clerk heard the name spoken. This migration from northern or central English roots to the southern county of Surrey reflects the broader movement of people who helped shape the local economy and community life during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
tun
Old English term for an enclosed settlement, farmstead, or village.
This name
BoultonDerived from a place name meaning a farmstead or village near a bolt or bridge.
also spelled
Bolton
Bulten
Bultoun
Related arms
Boltonvariant spelling
Borltonvariant spelling
Boultounvariant spelling
Bowletonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Surrey History Centre, Parish Register Transcripts for Surrey, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
