A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Foston family of England.
Reg. 9142 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Paly of six or and az. a chief gu”
YorkYork, c. 1620
Where the Foston Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Foston arms are recorded
The Foston arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Foston 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 York.
Origin & History of the Foston Family in England
The family name Foston is a locative surname, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place name rather than a trade or personal characteristic. It is widely believed to have originated in Yorkshire, England, where the name is linked to the village of Foston located near the city of York. By the early 17th century, records confirm that members of the Foston family were well-established residents of York. During this period, the city served as a major northern hub for trade and administration, suggesting that the family likely participated in the local economy of the region. Because surnames were often adopted by people moving away from their ancestral homes to identify their place of origin, the presence of the Foston name in York by 1620 reflects a long-standing connection to the landscape of Northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fot
Old Norse personal name meaning foot or a nickname for a walker.
This name
FostonA locational surname referring to a settlement belonging to a person named Fot.
also spelled
Fosten
Fostun
Related arms
Chedworthrecorded with Foston, same area
Durhamrecorded with Foston, same area
Madesonrecorded with Foston, same area
Roushebyrecorded with Foston, same area
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains’ Account Rolls, 1620
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
