Map of England showing where the Dutson arms are recorded
The Dutson arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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 Dutson 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Dutson Family in England
The surname Dutson is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Dutt or Dudd. This name likely began as a shortened or affectionate version of the Old English name Dudda. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Dutson family were firmly established in the coastal county of Cornwall in southwest England. During this period, Cornwall was a region defined by its rugged landscape, deep-rooted mining traditions, and strong maritime connections. Families in this area often lived in small, tight-knit parishes where they worked in agriculture or local trades. As the name spread through the region, it became a permanent identifier for families who built their lives in the unique cultural environment of the Cornish peninsula.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dudda
An Old English personal name of uncertain origin.
This name
DutsonA patronymic surname meaning son of Dudda.
also spelled
Dotsen
Dotsun
Dotsin
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
