A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Esten family of England.
Reg. 9676 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Or, on a cross pattée az. five martlets ar. on a chief of the second a fleur-de-lis of the first betw. two plates, each charged with a billet az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Esten Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Esten arms are recorded
The Esten 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 Esten 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 Esten Family in England
The surname Esten is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of northern England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name is generally considered a topographic or habitational surname, likely derived from the Old English words for east and town, suggesting that the earliest ancestors lived in a settlement located on the eastern side of a larger community or region. During the seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of commerce and administration, and families like the Estens were often involved in the local trades or civic life that defined the city. As the family established their presence in this historic hub, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the growth and development of the area during a period of significant transition in English history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eysteinn
Old Norse name composed of elements meaning island or stone.
This name
EstenDerived from a Scandinavian personal name meaning stone of the island or island stone.
Related arms
Estonvariant 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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
