Map of England showing where the Hickton arms are recorded
The Hickton 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 Hickton 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 Hickton Family in England
The surname Hickton is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person by their father’s name. It is derived from a diminutive form of the name Richard, specifically the nickname Hick, combined with the suffix "ton." In Old English, the suffix "ton" typically referred to an enclosed settlement or a village. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely associated with a specific farmstead or small community named after an ancestor named Richard. By 1620, records confirm that the Hickton family had established a notable presence in York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families living there were often involved in the skilled crafts or merchant guilds that defined the city’s economy. The family likely moved through the social structures of the time by participating in these local industries, gradually cementing their name within the historical records of Northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Richard
A Germanic name composed of elements meaning brave and powerful ruler.
This name
HicktonA patronymic surname meaning son of Hick, a diminutive form of Richard.
also spelled
Hickten
Hicktyn
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
