A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Doncaster family of England.
Reg. 7223 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. a castle triple-towered gu., sometimes depicted with a court yard ar. a keep in chief, a gateway in base, and walls at the flanches, with five towers at the various corners of the building”
ChesterChester, c. 1316
Where the Doncaster Arms Were Recorded
Chester
Map of England showing where the Doncaster arms are recorded
The Doncaster arms were recorded in Chester, c. 1316.
Cheshire was governed apart from the rest of England for much of its history, with its own courts and its own gentry. That separateness bred a strong local landed class, and landed families 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.
Edward II of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward II of England
1307–1327
Reigning in England when the Doncaster 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 Chester.
Origin & History of the Doncaster Family in England
The surname Doncaster is a locative name, which means it was originally given to people to identify them by the town they came from. In this case, the name refers to the historic market town of Doncaster in South Yorkshire. By the early 14th century, members of the family had moved away from their ancestral home and established themselves in other parts of England. One notable record confirms that individuals bearing this name were living in the city of Chester by the year 1316. During this medieval period, people often adopted the name of their hometown as a surname when they moved to a new area to help others identify their origins. This practice explains how a family from Yorkshire became part of the local records in the northwest of England during the reign of King Edward II.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Danum
A Roman fort or settlement located on the River Don.
This name
DoncasterRefers to a person who originated from the Roman town of Doncaster.
also spelled
Doncastell
Related arms
Doncastellvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Great Britain. Public Record Office. Calendar of the Patent Rolls preserved in the Public Record Office: Edward II, A.D. 1313–1317. 1898
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
The National Archives. Exchequer: King's Remembrancer: Accounts Various, E 101
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towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
