A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Congleton family of England.
Reg. 5018 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Gu. on a fesse ar. betw. three dragons' heads erased or, as many trefoils slipped sa”
NorthamptonHower · Northampton, c. 1620
Where the Congleton Arms Were Recorded
Northampton
Map of England showing where the Congleton arms are recorded
The Congleton arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1620.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Congleton 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 Northampton.
Origin & History of the Congleton Family in England
The family name Congleton is a locative surname, meaning it originally identified individuals by the place where they lived. The name is derived from the town of Congleton in Cheshire, England, which was recorded in the Domesday Book as Cogeltone. Over several centuries, families who moved away from this region carried the name with them as they settled in other parts of the country. By 1620, records confirm that members of the Congleton family were established in Northampton. During this era, families often migrated to growing market towns like Northampton to pursue new trades and economic opportunities. As these early ancestors settled into their new community, the name became a permanent fixture of their local identity, linking their family history back to its geographical roots in the north of England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cunegeltun
Old English elements meaning a settlement or town belonging to Cunegel.
This name
CongletonDerived from a place in Cheshire, signifying a town associated with a person named Cunegel.
also spelled
Congelton
Congulton
Related arms
Congaltonvariant 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
Northamptonshire Archives, Northampton St Giles 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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
