A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Degon family of England.
Reg. 1053 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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. six plates, three, two, and one, on a chief or, a lion ramp. of the field (another, a demi lion issuant ppr.)”
GloucesterGloucester, c. 1620
Where the Degon Arms Were Recorded
Gloucester
Map of England showing where the Degon arms are recorded
The Degon arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
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 Degon 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 Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Degon Family in England
The Degon family name has roots that trace back to the early seventeenth century in the coastal town of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Historical records indicate that members of the family were established in this region by 1620, placing them among the very early settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. During this period, the family likely lived as part of a small, tight-knit maritime community that relied heavily on fishing and trade for survival. Life in early Gloucester was defined by the harsh New England climate and the necessity of building a new society from the ground up. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local governance and social structures of the growing settlement. Their presence in these early records provides a clear window into the lives of the pioneers who helped shape the colonial landscape of North America.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dagon
A Semitic deity associated with grain and agriculture.
This name
DegonA locative or patronymic surname likely derived from a place name or a historical reference to the ancient deity.
also spelled
Degun
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Babson, John J., History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Ann, including the Town of Rockport, 1860
Massachusetts State Archives, Colonial Records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1620–1686
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
lionCourage, strength and royalty
