Map of England showing where the Kilton arms are recorded
The Kilton 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 Kilton 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 Kilton Family in England
The surname Kilton is a locative name, meaning it likely originated from a specific place rather than a trade or personal characteristic. Historical records confirm that members of the Kilton family were established in the city of York by 1620, placing them in a bustling center of trade and religion during the early seventeenth century. At this time, York served as a vital northern hub where families often settled near the river Ouse to participate in the thriving wool and textile markets. Because the name is tied to English geography, it is probable that the earliest ancestors took the name from a small village or manor to distinguish themselves as they moved into larger urban areas. Living in York during the 1600s meant that the family was part of a society undergoing significant social and political change, which often influenced how families recorded their names in parish registers and legal documents.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cil-tun
Old English for a farmstead or settlement near a stream.
This name
KiltonRefers to a person who originated from a settlement located by a spring or stream.
also spelled
Kylton
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Baines, Edward. History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York. 1822
Palliser, D. M. Tudor York. 1979
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
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