A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dorrington family of England.
Reg. 5811 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
ermineDignity and rank
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Counter-ermine (Ermines)Means: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Per pale erm. and ermines on a chief or, a lion pass”
GloucesterGloucester, c. 1620
Where the Dorrington Arms Were Recorded
Gloucester
Map of England showing where the Dorrington arms are recorded
The Dorrington 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 Dorrington 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 Dorrington Family in England
The surname Dorrington is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than an occupation or personal trait. Historical records confirm that the family was well-established in the county of Gloucestershire by the early seventeenth century, with documented members residing there as early as 1620. The name itself is believed to originate from the Old English language, likely referring to a settlement or farmstead associated with a person named Deora. As families moved throughout England during the medieval period, they often adopted the name of their home village to distinguish themselves from others in new regions. By the time the family appeared in Gloucestershire records, they were already part of a long tradition of English families who carried the history of their ancestral lands within their own names.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Deor
An Old English personal name meaning brave or beloved.
This name
DorringtonRefers to the settlement or estate belonging to the people of Deor.
also spelled
Dorinton
Doryngton
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Gloucestershire Archives, Diocese of Gloucester Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
ermineDignity and rank
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
ermineDignity and rank
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
