Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Gu. three crescents or (another, three mullets pierced)”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Boyton family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Gu. three crescents or (another, three mullets pierced)”
The Boyton arms were recorded in Tipperary, c. 1645.
Tipperary was the best grazing land in Ireland, held by a small number of powerful families. Land of that value stayed in the same hands, and unbroken holding is what puts a name in the records.
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 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.
The Boyton family name has deep roots in the Irish landscape, particularly within the fertile lands of County Tipperary. By the year 1645, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this region, living through a period of intense political and social transition. The name itself is thought to have origins linked to Old English or Anglo-Norman settlers who arrived in Ireland centuries earlier and gradually integrated into the local community. Over time, these families became part of the fabric of rural Irish life, often working as landowners or farmers who navigated the complex shifts in Irish property ownership during the seventeenth century. Their presence in Tipperary during this era suggests that the Boytons were deeply connected to the local history of the province of Munster, where they maintained their family identity amidst the broader struggles and developments of the time.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Az. on a fesse dancettée (another, wavy) betw. six crosses crosslet fitchee or, three escallops gu”
The Boyton arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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.
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.
The surname Boyton is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal trait. Historical evidence suggests the name emerged from small settlements or estates known as "Boyton," which were likely named after the farm or enclosure belonging to a person named Boia. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Essex. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Boyton family were living in this region during a period of significant social and economic change in England. These early ancestors were part of the rural population that helped shape the local communities of Essex. Their presence in the area reflects the common practice of families remaining tied to the land and the local parishes where they first established their roots.
An Old Irish term referring to a cow or cattle.

