A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Downton family of England.
Reg. 3166 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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. on a chief dancettée az. three goats' heads erased of the field”
KentSandhurst · Kent, c. 1620
Where the Downton Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Downton arms are recorded
The Downton arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Downton 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Downton Family in England
The surname Downton is a locational name, meaning it originally identified people who lived in or near a specific settlement. In Old English, the name is derived from the words "dun," meaning a hill or down, and "tun," which refers to an enclosed village or farmstead. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived near a prominent hill or a ridge in the English countryside. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Downton family were well-established in the county of Kent. During this period, families in Kent were often involved in agriculture or local trade, contributing to the growth of the region’s rural economy. Because the name describes a physical feature of the landscape, it likely emerged independently in several different parts of England before becoming a fixed family surname.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dun-tun
Old English for hill settlement or fortified enclosure.
This name
DowntonRefers to a person who lived near a settlement located on a hill.
also spelled
Dounton
Downtoun
Related arms
Fowlerecorded with Downton, same area
Frankrecorded with Downton, same area
Hedgesrecorded with Downton, same area
Heylinrecorded with Downton, same area
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, 1958
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of British Place-Names, 2003
Kent Archives, Quarter Sessions Records: Petitions and Indictments, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
