A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Doulton family of England.
Reg. 1628 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Sa. a cross engr. erm”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Doulton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Doulton arms are recorded
The Doulton 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 Doulton 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 Doulton Family in England
The Doulton family name is rooted in the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. The name likely originated as a locative surname, which was a common way to identify people by the specific town or village where they resided. In this case, the name may have been derived from a place known as "Doulton," a combination of Old English terms describing a farmstead or a valley. During the seventeenth century, families in York were often part of the growing merchant and artisan classes that helped the city thrive as a northern hub of trade. By settling in such a prominent urban center, the early Doultons were positioned to participate in the social and economic shifts of the era, establishing a legacy that would eventually span several centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dol
Old English term for a dull or foolish person.
This name
DoultonDerived from a nickname for a dull or slow-witted individual living in a specific settlement.
also spelled
Doulton
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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