Map of England showing where the Kelton arms are recorded
The Kelton arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1620.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Kelton 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Kelton Family in England
The name Kelton originates from the northern regions of England, where it was historically used as a locational surname to identify people who lived in or near a town known as a "kell" or spring. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Salop, which is also known as Shropshire. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Kelton family were settled in this area, likely working as landowners or tradespeople within the local rural economy. During this period, families often moved across the English countryside in search of better farmland or new opportunities in growing market towns. The presence of the Keltons in Salop suggests they were part of the stable, land-holding class that helped define the social structure of the region during the reign of King James I.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Celt
Old English word for a ship or a vessel
This name
KeltonDerived from a place name meaning a town or settlement located near a ship landing
also spelled
Kelten
Keltoun
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
Shropshire Archives, Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Visitations, 1620
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