A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Creston family of England.
Reg. 2498 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 saltire engr. ar”
NorfolkNorfolk, c. 1620
Where the Creston Arms Were Recorded
Norfolk
Map of England showing where the Creston arms are recorded
The Creston arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Creston 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Creston Family in England
The family name Creston finds its early roots in the English county of Norfolk, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a locational surname, which was a common practice in medieval England to identify individuals by the specific village or geographic feature where they resided. In the case of Creston, the name suggests a connection to a ridge or a crest of a hill, as the Old English word "crest" often described the top of a landform. During the early seventeenth century, families in Norfolk were frequently involved in local agriculture and trade, contributing to the growth of rural communities in East Anglia. As these early ancestors settled into the region, they became part of the local parish systems, which helped preserve their family identity through baptismal and marriage records that remain significant to historians today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crist
Derived from the Greek word Christos meaning anointed one.
This name
CrestonRefers to a settlement or town located near a ridge or a cross.
also spelled
Crestun
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Hey, David, Family Names and Family History, 2000
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Register Transcripts (1600–1650)
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
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
