A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Drayton family of England.
Reg. 0313 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Per pale indented gu. and az. a lion ramp. or”
NorfolkNorfolk, c. 1620
Where the Drayton Arms Were Recorded
Norfolk
Map of England showing where the Drayton arms are recorded
The Drayton arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Drayton 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Drayton Family in England
The surname Drayton is a locative name, meaning it originated from people who lived in or near a place called Drayton. In Old English, the name is derived from the words "dræg," which refers to a portage or a place where goods were dragged, and "tun," which means an enclosure or a settlement. This suggests that the earliest families to take the name likely resided in areas near rivers or streams where boats had to be hauled overland. By the year 1620, the Drayton family had established a notable presence in the county of Norfolk. During this period, families in the region were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the growing trade networks of East Anglia. As these early members moved through the landscape of seventeenth-century England, they helped define the identity of a name that was already rooted in the geography of the British Isles.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dræg-tun
Old English words for a slope or ridge and an enclosure.
This name
DraytonA settlement or farmstead located on a hillside or near a ridge.
also spelled
Draiton
Drayten
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Norfolk Record Office. Parish Registers of Norfolk. 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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
