A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gunton family of England.
Reg. 0511 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
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. three round buckles or”
NorthamptonNorthampton, c. 1620
Where the Gunton Arms Were Recorded
Northampton
Map of England showing where the Gunton arms are recorded
The Gunton arms were recorded in Northampton, c. 1620.
Northamptonshire was grazing and hunting country in the middle of England, thick with manor houses. Its families were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Gunton 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 Northampton.
Origin & History of the Gunton Family in England
The surname Gunton is of locative origin, meaning it was originally derived from the name of a specific place where the family resided. The name is rooted in Old English, likely combining a personal name with the suffix "tun," which refers to an enclosed settlement or village. By the early 17th century, members of the Gunton family were well-established in Northampton, England. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this region, where they were integrated into the local community during a period of significant social and economic change. As the family grew, they contributed to the local history of Northamptonshire, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that reflect their lives as tradespeople and landowners. This deep connection to the English Midlands suggests that the family had deep roots in the area long before they appeared in the official records of the early 1600s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gunni-tun
A combination of the Old Norse personal name Gunni and farmstead.
This name
GuntonRefers to a settlement or farm belonging to a man named Gunni.
also spelled
Guntun
Gunten
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Northamptonshire Archives, Parish Register Collection for Northampton St Sepulchre, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
