A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gayton family of England.
Reg. 6820 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. a fess betw. three fleurs-de-lis gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gayton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gayton arms are recorded
The Gayton 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 Gayton 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 Gayton Family in England
The family name Gayton is a locational surname, which means it originated from people who lived in or near a specific place called Gayton. These places are found in several parts of England, such as Norfolk, Northamptonshire, and Cheshire. The name itself comes from Old English words that describe a farmstead or an enclosure situated near a road. By the year 1620, members of the Gayton family were well-established in the historic city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and administration in Northern England, and families living there were often involved in the city’s active merchant guilds or local government. As the family grew, they moved into various trades and professions, helping to weave the name into the broader social fabric of the region throughout the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaius and tun
Derived from the Latin personal name Gaius and the Old English enclosure.
This name
GaytonRefers to an enclosed settlement or farmstead belonging to a person named Gaius.
also spelled
Gaiton
Geyton
Related arms
Geytonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
