Map of Britain showing where the Duty arms are recorded
The Duty arms were recorded in Londres, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Duty arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Duty Family in Britain
The surname Duty emerged in England as a descriptive name, likely originating from the Middle English word "dute," which referred to a sense of obligation or a dutiful nature. By the year 1700, records confirm that members of the Duty family were firmly established in the county of Kent. During this period, Kent was a bustling region known for its agricultural output and its proximity to the trade routes of the English Channel. Families like the Dutys often lived in small rural parishes where they worked as tenant farmers or skilled tradespeople. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving their mark in parish registers that tracked births, marriages, and deaths. This early presence in Kent suggests that the family was well-integrated into the local community long before the industrial changes of the later centuries reshaped the English landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dutee
Derived from the Old French word for duty or obligation.
This name
DutyAn occupational name for someone who performed a specific service or held a formal responsibility.
also spelled
Dutrie
Dutrey
Dutri
Dutree
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
Kent Archives, Canterbury Cathedral Archives: Parish Registers of Kent, 1700–1750
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
spurKnighthood, and readiness to spur on
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
spurKnighthood, and readiness to spur on
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
