A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dottin family of England.
Reg. 0329 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. three horses' heads erased or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Dottin Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Dottin arms are recorded
The Dottin 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 Dottin 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 Dottin Family in England
The Dottin family name has deep roots in the city of York, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a variation of occupational terms common in Northern England during the late medieval period. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local merchant and civic life of York, which was a major hub for trade and administration at the time. By the early seventeenth century, the Dottins were part of the social fabric of the city, living through a period of significant religious and political change in England. Their presence in York suggests that they were settled residents who contributed to the local economy and community long before the family lines began to spread to other parts of the British Isles and the colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dotte
A Middle English term referring to a small dot or speck.
This name
DottinA nickname for a person of small stature or a diminutive of the name Dorothy.
also spelled
Dotten
Dottyn
Related arms
Dottonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York. Parish Register Transcripts, 1620
Collins, Francis. Register of the Freemen of the City of York from the City Records, Vol. 1, 1272–1609. 1897
York City Archives. House Books of the City of York, 1610–1630
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
