A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ellington family of England.
Reg. 1295 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, six annulets sa. three, two, and one, on a chief ar. three mullets of the second”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Ellington Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Ellington arms are recorded
The Ellington 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 Ellington 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 Ellington Family in England
The surname Ellington is a locational name that originated in England, specifically derived from places named Ellington in Northumberland and Huntingdonshire. The name itself is rooted in Old English, likely meaning the settlement of Ella’s people. By the early 17th century, members of the family had established a presence in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in the city’s bustling merchant guilds or local governance. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Northern England, eventually spreading across the region as they pursued new opportunities in agriculture and commerce. The presence of the family in York by 1620 places them in a time of great social change, just years before many families began the journey across the Atlantic to the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ella
Old English personal name meaning all or noble
This name
EllingtonRefers to the settlement or farmstead belonging to the kin of Ella
also spelled
Ellingtown
Elyngton
Related arms
Elyngtonvariant spelling
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. York Diocesan Probate Records
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
