A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dighton family of England.
Reg. 1723 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Erm. a lion pass. betw. three crosses formée fitchée gu”
HertfordHertford, c. 1620
Where the Dighton Arms Were Recorded
Hertford
Map of England showing where the Dighton arms are recorded
The Dighton arms were recorded in Hertford, c. 1620.
Hertfordshire lay just north of London and filled with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate within a day's ride was the usual next step, and an estate brought arms with it.
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 Dighton 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 Hertford.
Origin & History of the Dighton Family in England
The surname Dighton is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the Old English words "dic," meaning a ditch or dike, and "tun," meaning an enclosure or settlement. This suggests that the earliest families to carry the name lived near a prominent ditch or a fortified boundary in a town. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Dighton family were well-established in the county town of Hertford. During this period, families in Hertford were often involved in the local trade and agricultural life of the region, as the town served as a vital market hub near London. The presence of the family in this area indicates that they were likely settled landowners or established tradespeople who played a role in the local community as the seventeenth century began.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dic-tun
Old English elements meaning ditch or dike and an enclosure or settlement.
This name
DightonRefers to a person who lived near a fortified ditch or a settlement by a dike.
also spelled
Dyghton
Related arms
Deightonvariant spelling
Dyghtonvariant spelling
Lascellesrecorded with Dighton, same area
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
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Hertford St Andrew Parish Registers, D/P 48/1/1
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
