A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cheston family of England.
Reg. 0832 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
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)
“Gu. three bars wavy, party per barry wavy or and erm. over all a saltire of the first”
SuffolkMydethall · Suffolk, c. 1620
Where the Cheston Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Cheston arms are recorded
The Cheston arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Cheston 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Cheston Family in England
The surname Cheston is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, likely originating as a topographic name for someone who lived near a stony place or a chest-shaped hill. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Suffolk, a region known for its rich agricultural history and thriving wool trade. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were settled in this area, where they participated in the local social and economic life of the English countryside. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the parish communities of East Anglia, often appearing in local tax rolls and church registers. This period marked a time of transition for many families in Suffolk, as they balanced traditional farming practices with the rising influence of local trade and commerce. Through these early generations, the Cheston name became firmly linked to the identity of the region, reflecting the quiet endurance of families who helped shape the rural character of southeastern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ceaster
Old English term for a Roman fort or walled town.
This name
ChestonDerived from a place name indicating someone who lived near a Roman fortification.
also spelled
Chesten
Chestun
Related arms
Gatakerrecorded with Cheston, same area
Lockrecorded with Cheston, same area
Northrecorded with Cheston, 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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Suffolk Archives, Ipswich Parish Registers and Bishop’s Transcripts, 1600–1650
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
