A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Garton family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6750 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à deux fasces d'or, surm. chacune de deux étoiles du même.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Garton Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Garton arms are recorded
The Garton arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Garton arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Garton Family in France
The family name Garton has roots that stretch back into the historical landscape of southern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established in the Languedoc region. This area was a center of significant cultural and religious activity during the seventeenth century. Families living in Languedoc at this time often navigated complex social changes as the French monarchy sought to centralize its power over the provinces. The Gartons likely lived as part of the local agrarian or artisan communities that defined the economy of the region. Their presence in the area suggests they were integrated into the local parish systems, which served as the primary method for tracking births, marriages, and deaths before modern civil registration. Over time, the family name became a part of the regional identity, reflecting the movement and settlement patterns typical of families living in the south of France during the early modern period.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. a chev. or, betw. two bezants in chief and a griffin's head erased in base of the second”
SuffolkSuffolk, c. 1620
Where the Garton Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Garton arms are recorded
The Garton arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Garton 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Garton Family in England
The surname Garton is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. Etymologically, the name is rooted in Old English and Old Norse, likely combining the word "gar," meaning a spear or triangular piece of land, with "tun," which refers to an enclosed settlement or farmstead. By the time members of the Garton family were documented in Suffolk in 1620, the name had already been established in England for several centuries. Families bearing this name were often associated with agricultural life in rural villages, moving across the landscape as they sought new land to cultivate. Because the name was tied to specific geographic locations, it appeared in various regional records as families migrated from northern areas toward the eastern counties. This movement reflects the broader patterns of English social history, where families frequently relocated to find better economic opportunities in the growing farming communities of the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gart
Old Germanic term referring to an enclosed area or garden.
This name
GartonDerived from a topographic location indicating someone who lived near an enclosed yard or garden.
also spelled
Gartone
Gart
Gartonby
Gartoun
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Hérault, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Le Roy Ladurie, Emmanuel, Les Paysans de Languedoc, 1966
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
