Map of England showing where the Kirton arms are recorded
The Kirton 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 Kirton 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 Kirton Family in England
The surname Kirton is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name comes from Old English roots, combining the word for a church with the word for a settlement or town. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the region of Lancaster. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Kirton family were living in this area during a time of significant social and religious change in England. Because the name is tied to geography, it likely originated among families who lived near a prominent church in a small village, eventually becoming a permanent identifier as those individuals moved into larger towns like Lancaster.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kirk-tun
Old Norse for church and Old English for an enclosed settlement.
This name
KirtonA person who lived in or near a village containing a church.
also spelled
Kirten
Kyrton
Kerton
Related arms
Kyrtonvariant spelling
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
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
