A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Claughton family of Britain.
Reg. 1572 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“d'herm. à deux fleurs-de-lis d'azur, sur sa. à une tour au nat.”
Britainc. 1700
Where the Claughton Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Claughton arms are recorded
The Claughton arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Claughton arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Claughton Family in Britain
The surname Claughton is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a locational name derived from places in Lancashire and Yorkshire. The name itself combines the Old English words for a steep slope or cliff and a farmstead or settlement. By the time the family established a documented presence in Kent during the early 1700s, the name had already transitioned from a regional identifier to a stable hereditary surname. Families during this era often moved across the country to seek new opportunities in trade or agriculture, and those settling in Kent likely integrated into the local parish systems of the time. These early members were part of a period where record-keeping became more consistent, allowing historians to trace their movements through local church registers and property deeds. This transition from a northern geographical marker to a southern family line highlights the mobility of English families during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Clag-tun
Old English for a settlement located near a steep hill or cliff.
This name
ClaughtonA habitational name derived from various locations in Lancashire and Yorkshire meaning a farmstead by a cliff.
also spelled
Clauton
Clawton
Clafton
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
The National Archives, Parish registers and probate records for the county of Kent, 1700–1750
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
