A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Halston family of England.
Reg. 0175 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Paly of six ar. and sa. on a chev. gu. a cross crosslet or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Halston Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Halston arms are recorded
The Halston 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 Halston 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 Halston Family in England
The Halston surname finds its roots in the northern regions of England, with historical evidence placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name likely originated as a locational surname, which was a common practice during the Middle Ages to identify individuals by the specific village or manor where they resided. Linguistically, the name is thought to derive from Old English terms referring to a "hallowed stone" or a sacred site, suggesting that the earliest ancestors may have lived near a prominent landmark or a local churchyard. By the seventeenth century, the family was well-established in the bustling trade hub of York, where they likely participated in the city’s vibrant merchant culture. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Northern England, contributing to the local economy and community life during a period of significant transition in British history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Halig-tun
Old English for holy or sacred settlement or enclosure.
This name
HalstonDerived from a place name referring to a holy town or sacred estate.
also spelled
Halston
Halyston
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Yorkshire Parish Registers, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
