Map of England showing where the Highton arms are recorded
The Highton arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the 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 Highton 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Highton Family in England
The Highton family name originates from the historic county of Lancashire in North West England. The name is locational in nature, meaning it likely derived from a specific place or settlement known as Highton. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established within the region. During this period, Lancashire was a landscape defined by small farming communities and the growing influence of the textile industry. Families like the Hightons were often deeply connected to the local parish system, which served as the primary way to track births, marriages, and deaths. As the seventeenth century progressed, the family remained rooted in the social and economic life of the English countryside, contributing to the development of the local villages that shaped the identity of the area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heah-tun
Old English words for high or tall and an enclosed settlement.
This name
HightonRefers to a person who lived at a high or elevated farmstead.
also spelled
Hayton
Haiton
Hayghton
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
Lancashire Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
Mills, Anthony David, A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bullValour and generosity
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bullValour and generosity
