A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gorton family of England.
Reg. 9320 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
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. ten billets or, a chief indented of the last”
LancasterGorton · Lancaster, c. 1620
Where the Gorton Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Gorton arms are recorded
The Gorton arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Gorton 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Gorton Family in England
The surname Gorton is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the township of Gorton, which was historically located within the parish of Manchester in Lancashire, England. The name itself comes from the Old English words "gor," meaning dirt or mud, and "tun," meaning an enclosure or settlement, suggesting that the original village was established on muddy or fertile ground. By the early 17th century, families bearing this name were well-established across the Lancashire region. Records confirm that members of the Gorton family were living in the Lancaster area by 1620, where they were likely involved in the local agricultural or trade communities that defined life in the north of England during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gor-tun
Old English for triangular piece of land and an enclosed settlement.
This name
GortonRefers to a person who lived at a triangular enclosure or farmstead.
also spelled
Gorten
Gortin
Gortoun
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Place-Names of Lancashire. 1922
Farrer, William and Brownbill, John. A History of the County of Lancaster. 1906
Lancashire Archives, Bishop’s Transcripts of Burials, Baptisms and Marriages for the Diocese of Chester, 1620
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
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
