A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the De la Tour family of England.
Reg. 3838 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a tower embattled, with a cupola ar. door gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the De la Tour Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the De la Tour arms are recorded
The De la Tour 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 De la Tour 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 De la Tour Family in England
The surname De la Tour is a locative name, meaning it was originally used to identify people who lived near a prominent tower or a fortified structure. In the medieval period, such names were common in France and across parts of Europe as a way to distinguish individuals based on their local surroundings. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had traveled across borders and adapted to the changing social landscape of England. Settling in a historic city like York suggests that these early family members were likely integrated into the urban life of the seventeenth century, perhaps working as merchants or skilled tradespeople. While the name carries a sense of continental heritage, its presence in Northern England shows how families moved and evolved during a time of significant migration and social change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Turris
A Latin term referring to a tall structure or fortification.
This name
De la TourIndicates a person who lived near or was associated with a prominent tower.
also spelled
Delatowre
Related arms
Delatowrevariant 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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
