A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brockton family of England.
Reg. 4033 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Vert, a griffin segreant or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Brockton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Brockton arms are recorded
The Brockton 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 Brockton 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 Brockton Family in England
The surname Brockton is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place where the family resided. In Old English, the name combines the word "brocc," meaning badger, with "tun," which refers to an enclosed settlement or farmstead. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a clearing or village frequented by badgers. By 1620, records confirm that members of the Brockton family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a major center for trade and administration in Northern England, and families living there were often involved in the city’s vibrant craft guilds or local commerce. As the family grew, they contributed to the social and economic fabric of the region, carrying their name from the rural landscapes of their origins into the heart of one of England’s most significant medieval cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
brocc and tun
Old English for badger and an enclosed settlement or farmstead.
This name
BrocktonRefers to a farmstead or settlement located near a place frequented by badgers.
also spelled
Brocton
Brockten
Brokten
Related arms
Broctonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. Archbishop of York’s Diocesan Records
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
