A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chesterton family of England.
Reg. 6248 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 pile sa. and chev. counterchanged”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Chesterton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Chesterton arms are recorded
The Chesterton 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 Chesterton 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 Chesterton Family in England
The surname Chesterton is a locational name, meaning it was originally taken from a place where a family lived. It is derived from the Old English words "ceaster," which refers to a Roman fort or walled town, and "tun," which means an enclosed settlement or farm. By the time the family was firmly established in York in 1620, the name served as a way to identify individuals who lived near or within the ruins of ancient Roman fortifications. During the early seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious life, and families like the Chestertons were often integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes. Because the name describes a specific type of landscape, it likely emerged independently in several different parts of England where Roman structures remained visible in the countryside. Over time, the name became a permanent marker of the family’s connection to these historic sites.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Castrum
A Latin term referring to a fortified place, camp, or castle.
This name
ChestertonDerived from a place name meaning a settlement or town located near a Roman fort.
also spelled
Chestertoun
Chestertun
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, 1958
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of York
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
