A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Button family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3735 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a cross botonnée or”
ChesterChester, c. 1620
Where the Button Arms Were Recorded
Chester
Map of England showing where the Button arms are recorded
The Button arms were recorded in Chester, c. 1620.
Cheshire was governed apart from the rest of England for much of its history, with its own courts and its own gentry. That separateness bred a strong local landed class, and landed families 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 Button 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 Chester.
Origin & History of the Button Family in England
The surname Button is an ancient occupational name that likely emerged in England during the Middle Ages. It was traditionally given to people who worked as makers or sellers of buttons, which were essential fasteners for clothing during that period. By the time the name appears in the historical record of Chester in 1620, the family had already established deep roots within the social and economic life of the region. Families with this name were often part of the growing merchant class in bustling trade hubs like Chester, where their skills in craftsmanship or trade allowed them to thrive. Over the centuries, the name spread from these urban centers into the surrounding countryside, becoming a permanent part of the English landscape. The presence of the Button family in Chester during the early seventeenth century reflects a time of significant movement and professional development for many English families as they built their lives in established port cities.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
Colours
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)
“Ar. a chev. betw. three tuns gu”
GlamorganshireGlamorganshire, c. 1647
Where the Button Arms Were Recorded
Glamorganshire
Map of Wales showing where the Button arms are recorded
The Button arms were recorded in Glamorganshire, c. 1647.
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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in England when the Button arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Glamorganshire.
Origin & History of the Button Family in Wales
The history of the Button family in Wales is deeply rooted in the landscape of Glamorganshire, where the name appears in local records as early as the mid-seventeenth century. By 1647, members of the family were established figures within the region, often involved in the social and administrative life of the area. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive occupational term, potentially referring to a maker of buttons or a fastener, which was a common way to identify individuals in medieval society before permanent surnames became standard. As the family settled into the Welsh countryside, they became integrated into the local community, living through a period of significant political and social change in Britain. Their presence in Glamorganshire suggests that they were part of the landed or merchant classes who helped shape the local economy and governance of the county during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bot
Old French term for a bud or a rounded object.
This name
ButtonAn occupational name for a maker or seller of buttons or fasteners.
also spelled
Butten
Buttyn
Related arms
Byttonvariant spelling
Baverstockrecorded with Button, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, Chester City Parish Records, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
