A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Halton family of England.
Reg. 9980 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Per pale gu. and az. a lion ramp. or”
DerbySouth Winfield · Derby, c. 1620
Where the Halton Arms Were Recorded
Derby
Map of England showing where the Halton arms are recorded
The Halton arms were recorded in Derby, c. 1620.
Derbyshire had lead mines in its hills and good grazing in its valleys. Both made steady money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names into the heraldic 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 Halton 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 Derby.
Origin & History of the Halton Family in England
The surname Halton is a locative name, which means it was originally taken from the name of a specific place. In Old English, the name is derived from the words "halh," meaning a nook or a corner of land, and "tun," meaning an enclosure or a settlement. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Halton family were well-established in the county of Derby. During this period, families often settled in areas where they could work in local trades or agriculture, and the name served as a way to identify individuals by their home village. As the family grew and moved throughout the region, the name remained a constant link to their ancestral roots in the English Midlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Halh-tun
Old English for a nook or corner of land and an enclosure.
This name
HaltonRefers to a settlement located in a secluded corner of land or valley.
also spelled
Halten
Related arms
Halghtonvariant spelling
Halletonvariant spelling
Hallewtonvariant spelling
Greenrecorded with Halton, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Derbyshire Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records (Q/SR)
The National Archives, Parish Register Transcripts for the County of Derby
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
