A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Charlston family of England.
Reg. 5251 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. on a cross vert five eagles displ. or”
EssexEssex, c. 1620
Where the Charlston Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Charlston arms are recorded
The Charlston 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.
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 Charlston 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Charlston Family in England
The surname Charlston is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or personal trait. The name is rooted in Old English, combining the term "ceorl," which referred to a free peasant or a man of common status, with "tun," meaning an enclosure, village, or homestead. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in the county of Essex, England. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this region, where they likely lived as farmers or local tradespeople who identified themselves by the name of their home village. Over time, as families moved away from their original settlements, the name traveled with them, eventually becoming a permanent family surname passed down through generations of residents in the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ceorl
Old English term for a free man or peasant.
This name
CharlstonDerived from a place name meaning the settlement or town of the free men.
also spelled
Charlesten
Charlstun
Charlstin
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Essex Record Office, Parish Registers of Essex, 1620
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1991
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
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
