A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carlton family of England.
Reg. 8520 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Erm. on a fesse gu. three castles triple-towered or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Carlton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Carlton arms are recorded
The Carlton 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 Carlton 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 Carlton Family in England
The surname Carlton is a locational name that originated in England, derived from the Old Norse word *karl* and the Old English word *tun*, which together mean a settlement or farmstead belonging to free peasants. Because many villages across the country were named Carlton, the name likely emerged independently in several different regions as people moved away from their ancestral homes and adopted the name of their village as a way to identify themselves. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in York, a city with a deep history dating back to Roman times. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Carlton family were living and working in this northern hub, participating in the daily life of a community that served as a vital center for trade and governance in England. These early ancestors were part of a growing urban population that helped shape the social and economic landscape of the region during a period of significant transition.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Karl-tun
Old Norse and Old English for free man and farmstead or settlement.
This name
CarltonRefers to a settlement or town inhabited by free peasants or freemen.
also spelled
Carleton
Carltoun
Related arms
Carletonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of British Place-Names, 2011
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
