A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dunton family of Poland.
Reg. 1064 · Polish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti, d'arg. à une tulipe et une rose de gu., et de gu. à une rose et une tulipe d'arg., le tout feuillé, tigé et terrassé de sin. (les deux tulipes plus élevées que les deux roses); en chef une étoile (8) de l'un en l'autre. C.: une couronne royale d'or, sommée d'une étoile (8) partie d'arg. et de gu., entre deux roses, celle à dextre de gu., celle à sen. d'arg., tigées et feuillées de sin., entrelacées dans la couronne. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
LivoniaLivonia, c. 1654
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Map of Poland showing where the Dunton arms are recorded
The Dunton arms were recorded in Livonia, c. 1654.
Livonia was Baltic country held by a small number of landed families who kept their estates for centuries. Land there passed down whole rather than being divided, and long unbroken tenure is what fills a register.
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.
Region
Livonia
First recorded
1654
Granting Authority for the Dunton Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
John II Casimir Vasa
Sovereign of the period
John II Casimir Vasa
1648–1668
Reigning in Poland when the Dunton arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Livonia.
Origin & History of the Dunton Family in Poland
The name Dunton is of English origin and typically describes someone who lived near a hill or a fortified settlement. The prefix "dun" refers to a hill or a high place, while the suffix "ton" indicates an enclosed town or farmstead. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family had established themselves in various regions, including a notable presence in Livonia by 1654. During this period, Livonia was a territory undergoing significant political shifts between Swedish, Polish, and Russian influence. Families living in this region often served as landowners, merchants, or local administrators who helped manage the agricultural output of the Baltic landscape. As the Dunton family moved through these changing borders, they maintained their identity while adapting to the social and economic demands of their new surroundings.
Dunton Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Dun
Old English term for a hill or a dark-colored feature.
This name
DuntonA topographical surname referring to someone who lived on or near a hill.
also spelled
Dunte
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Latvijas Valsts vēstures arhīvs (Latvian State Historical Archives), Vidzemes bruņniecības dokumenti (Documents of the Livonian Knighthood), 1654
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
