A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Douty family of England.
Reg. 1827 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. two bars betw. three stars of six points pierced sa”
SurreySurrey, c. 1620
Where the Douty Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Douty arms are recorded
The Douty arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 Douty 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Douty Family in England
The family name Douty is primarily rooted in the English county of Surrey, where historical records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1620. The name itself is considered a variation of the Middle English term "doughty," which was used as a descriptive nickname for a person who was brave, valiant, or capable in battle. During the seventeenth century, surnames were still evolving in their spelling, and families often recorded their names based on how they sounded to a local clerk rather than a standardized form. Because the Douty family was established in Surrey during this period, they likely lived as part of the local agrarian or tradesman class, contributing to the regional economy of southern England. As the family grew, they remained tied to the social and parish structures of the area, leaving behind a legacy that reflects the transition from descriptive nicknames to permanent hereditary surnames.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Doughty
Derived from the Old English word dohtig meaning valiant or brave.
This name
DoutyA descriptive nickname for a person who was considered courageous, noble, or capable.
also spelled
Douty
Dowty
Doughtie
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Surrey History Centre, Parish Registers of Surrey, 1620
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mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
