A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grafton family of England.
Reg. 1643 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Sa. a fret ar. the field replenished with fleurs-de-lis or”
WorcesterWorcester, c. 1198
Where the Grafton Arms Were Recorded
Worcester
Map of England showing where the Grafton arms are recorded
The Grafton arms were recorded in Worcester, c. 1198.
Worcestershire was orchard and farming country with a scattering of old manors. Its gentry were middling rather than great, but a manor was a manor, and holding one was what brought 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.
Richard I of England
Sovereign of the period
Richard I of England
1189–1199
Reigning in England when the Grafton 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 Worcester.
Origin & History of the Grafton Family in England
The surname Grafton is a locative name, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place rather than a trade or personal characteristic. The name is derived from the Old English words "graf," meaning a grove or thicket, and "tun," meaning an enclosure, farmstead, or settlement. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name were people who lived near a prominent grove. Records show that members of the Grafton family were established in the county of Worcestershire by 1198. During this period, families often adopted the names of the lands they occupied to distinguish themselves in legal and tax documents. As these individuals moved or expanded their influence, the name traveled with them, eventually becoming a permanent family identifier that persisted through centuries of English history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
graf tun
Old English for grove or ditch and an enclosed settlement or farm.
This name
GraftonRefers to a person who lived at a farmstead located near a grove or trench.
also spelled
Graftoun
Graftonne
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
The National Archives, Pipe Rolls, E 372/44 (1198)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
