Map of England showing where the Collington arms are recorded
The Collington 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 Collington 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 Collington Family in England
The surname Collington is a locative name, which means it likely originated from a specific place or settlement. In Old English, the suffix "ton" refers to an enclosed area, a farmstead, or a village, suggesting that the earliest members of the family were associated with a particular piece of land. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that the Collington family was well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life in Northern England. Families living there at the time were often involved in the city’s thriving merchant guilds or local administration. Because the name is tied to a specific geographic location, it is probable that the family’s ancestors moved to York from a smaller village or manor that shared their name, eventually adopting it as a permanent identifier to distinguish themselves in the growing urban environment.
Collington Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Coll
A diminutive form of the name Nicholas meaning victory of the people.
This name
CollingtonRefers to the settlement or farmstead belonging to the family of Coll.
also spelled
Collyngton
Collingtonne
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York, Archbishop of York Diocesan Records
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
