Map of England showing where the Hunton arms are recorded
The Hunton arms were recorded in Wilts, c. 1578.
Wiltshire was sheep country, and wool made money steadily for hundreds of years. Families who made it bought manors on the downs, and holding a manor was the usual reason to take 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Hunton 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 Wilts.
Origin & History of the Hunton Family in England
The surname Hunton is a locative name, meaning it originated from people who lived in or near a place called Hunton. The most prominent location of this name is in the county of Kent, though the family established a notable presence in Wiltshire by the late sixteenth century. Records confirm that members of the Hunton family were settled in Wiltshire by 1578, where they likely worked as landowners or farmers. During this period, surnames were becoming increasingly fixed as families stayed in specific regions for generations. The name itself is derived from Old English roots, likely combining a personal name with the word for a town or settlement. As the family grew in Wiltshire, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that track their movement through the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hunta
Old English term for a hunter or one who pursues game.
This name
HuntonDerived from a place name meaning the settlement or enclosure belonging to a hunter.
also spelled
Hunten
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
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Wiltshire Parish Registers, 1578
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
