A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Colton family of England.
Reg. 7042 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. a saltire engr. betw. four crosses crosslet or”
CheshireCheshire, c. 1620
Where the Colton Arms Were Recorded
Cheshire
Map of England showing where the Colton arms are recorded
The Colton arms were recorded in Cheshire, c. 1620.
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 Colton 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 Cheshire.
Origin & History of the Colton Family in England
The surname Colton is a locational name that originated in England, specifically referring to people who lived in or near a town called Colton. The name itself is derived from the Old English words "col," meaning coal or charcoal, and "tun," which refers to an enclosed settlement or village. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in the county of Cheshire. During this period, the region was primarily agricultural, and families like the Coltons often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this area, suggesting that they were likely part of the local yeomanry or farming class that formed the backbone of English society at the time. These early ancestors were deeply connected to the land, and their surname served as a permanent record of the specific village where their family line first took root.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cola and tun
A personal name meaning charcoal and an Old English word for settlement.
This name
ColtonRefers to a settlement or town belonging to a person named Cola.
also spelled
Colten
Coltun
Coltoun
Related arms
Coultonvariant spelling
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
Mills, Anthony David, A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1991
Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, Bishop's Transcripts of Cheshire Parish Registers, 1620
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
cross symbolChristian faith and service
