A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elderton family of England.
Reg. 3209 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
water bougetThe crusader's water carrier, and a journey made
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. three water bougets ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Elderton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Elderton arms are recorded
The Elderton arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Elderton 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 England.
Origin & History of the Elderton Family in England
The surname Elderton is an English locational name that likely originated from a place name meaning the town or settlement of an elder. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Elderton family were living in this region by 1620, a time when York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration. Families during this period often derived their identity from the specific parishes where they resided, and the Eldertons were likely integrated into the local merchant or craft guilds that defined the city’s social structure. As the family grew, their history became intertwined with the evolving landscape of northern England, reflecting the patterns of migration and settlement common to families of that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eald
Old or ancient in the Old English language.
This name
EldertonRefers to the settlement or estate belonging to an elderly or venerable person.
also spelled
Eldertoun
Related arms
Ellerdonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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water bougetThe crusader's water carrier, and a journey made
water bougetThe crusader's water carrier, and a journey made
