A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colleton family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2750 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à trois têtes et cols de cerf au nat. C.: une tête et col de cerf au nat.”
HertfordshireHertfordshire, c. 1660
Where the Colleton Arms Were Recorded
Map of France showing where the Colleton arms are recorded
The Colleton arms were recorded in Hertfordshire, c. 1660.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Colleton arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Hertfordshire.
Origin & History of the Colleton Family in France
The origins of the Colleton family name are deeply rooted in the linguistic shifts of medieval France, where the name likely emerged as a descriptive term or a variation of local place names. Many surnames of this era were derived from the Old French word "col," which often referred to a mountain pass or a neck, suggesting that the earliest ancestors may have lived near a prominent geographical feature. As families migrated across the English Channel, these French roots were gradually adapted to fit the phonetics of the English language. By the time the family established a documented presence in Hertfordshire in 1660, the name had already undergone centuries of evolution. This transition reflects the broader movement of people who brought their continental cultural heritage into the social fabric of rural England during the seventeenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
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)
“Or, three roebucks' heads couped ppr”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Colleton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Colleton arms are recorded
The Colleton 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 France when the Colleton 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 Colleton Family in England
The surname Colleton is deeply rooted in the history of Northern England, with significant records placing the family in the city of York by the year 1620. During this period, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, and families like the Colleton line were often involved in the local merchant classes or the growing professional sectors of the city. The name itself likely evolved from a geographical descriptor, referring to individuals who lived near a specific settlement or a piece of land known as a "ton" or farmstead. As the family established their presence in Yorkshire, they became part of the social fabric of a region defined by its ancient walls and its role as a northern capital. By the early seventeenth century, the Colleton name was already well-integrated into the local community, reflecting a history of stability and regional identity that predates the family's later expansion into colonial administration and global trade.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Col
A diminutive form of the name Nicholas meaning victory of the people.
This name
ColletonA habitational name derived from a location associated with the name Nicholas.
also spelled
Coleton
Collyton
Colletonne
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Quarter Sessions Records, 1660
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
