A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cranton family of England.
Reg. 9355 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
lionCourage, strength and royalty
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. a lion pass. betw. three dolphins embowed within an orle flory or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cranton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cranton arms are recorded
The Cranton 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 Cranton 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 Cranton Family in England
The surname Cranton is rooted in the historical landscape of Northern England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name likely originated as a locative surname, which was a common way to identify people by the specific town or geographical feature where they lived. During the seventeenth century, York served as a major hub for trade and administration, meaning families like the Crantons were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled trades that kept the city functioning. As the family established themselves in this region, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, living through a period of significant political and religious change in England. By tracing their presence in parish registers and local administrative records from this era, historians can see how the Cranton name persisted through generations as the family adapted to the evolving economy of Northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crag-tun
A settlement located near a steep or rugged rock formation.
This name
CrantonDerived from a locational surname referring to someone living near a rocky outcrop or craggy hill.
also spelled
Cranten
Crantoun
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archive: Parish Registers of York St. Martin-cum-Gregory
Palliser, D. M., Tudor York, 1979
Raine, A., York Civic Records, 1939
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
lionCourage, strength and royalty
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
lionCourage, strength and royalty
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
