A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Chorlton family of England.
Reg. 1351 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
ermineDignity and rank
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Counter-ermine (Ermines)Means: Dignity
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)
“Or, three piles and a canton ermines”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Chorlton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Chorlton arms are recorded
The Chorlton 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 Chorlton 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 Chorlton Family in England
The surname Chorlton is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the Old English words "ceorl," meaning a freeman or peasant, and "tun," meaning a farmstead or settlement. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name were likely residents of a place called Chorlton, such as the village near Manchester or other similar settlements in Northern England. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family had established a presence in York. During this period, families often moved between northern towns for trade or agricultural work, and the family likely integrated into the local community as they transitioned from their rural origins to the bustling life of a historic city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ceorl-tun
A settlement or farmstead belonging to a free peasant or freeman.
This name
ChorltonDerived from an Old English place name referring to a village inhabited by common freemen.
also spelled
Charlton
Chorleton
Related arms
Charltonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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.
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
ermineDignity and rank
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
ermineDignity and rank
