A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Landon family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7637 · Polish, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois têtes de léopard, celle du milieu d'arg. et les deux autres de gu., chaque tête posée en barre, rangées en bande entre deux cotices d'or. Cq. cour C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux de gu., posées entre deux pattes d'ours d'arg., les ongles en haut.”
LivoniaLivonia, c. 1772
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Map of Poland showing where the Landon arms are recorded
The Landon arms were recorded in Livonia, c. 1772.
Livonia was Baltic country held by a small number of landed families who kept their estates for centuries. Land there passed down whole rather than being divided, and long unbroken tenure is what fills a register.
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.
Region
Livonia
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Landon Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Sovereign of the period
Stanisław August Poniatowski
1764–1795
Reigning in Poland when the Landon arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Livonia.
Origin & History of the Landon Family in Poland
The history of the Landon family in the region of Livonia during the late eighteenth century reflects the complex movement of people across the borders of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. By 1772, when the first partition of Poland led to significant political shifts in the Baltic territories, members of the Landon family were already established as part of the local social fabric. The name itself likely evolved from Germanic or Old English roots, but its presence in Livonia suggests that the family integrated into a diverse society where Baltic, German, and Polish influences overlapped. During this era, families in this region often served in administrative or land-owning roles that required them to navigate the changing loyalties between local nobility and the expanding Russian Empire. The Landon family members lived through a time of great transition, as the traditional structures of the Commonwealth began to dissolve and new imperial authorities took control of their ancestral lands. Their survival and continued presence in the region during these turbulent years highlight the adaptability of families who maintained their identity while living at the crossroads of European history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, a chev. sa. betw. three bustards vert”
Englandc. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Landon arms are recorded
The Landon 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 Poland when the Landon 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 Landon Family in England
The surname Landon is a locative name, meaning it was originally used to identify people by the specific place where they lived. Etymologically, the name is derived from the Old English words "land" and "dun," which together describe a person living on a long, grassy hill or a ridge. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Landon family were active participants in the social and economic life of this northern English hub. During this period, York was a center for trade and religious administration, and families like the Landons were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the governance of the city parishes. Their presence in such a prominent location suggests that the family was well-integrated into the community, contributing to the development of the region long before the name spread further across the British Isles.
Landon Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Land
A Germanic term referring to a territory, country, or open land.
This name
LandonDerived from a place name meaning long hill or ridge, often associated with land ownership.
also spelled
Landone
Landun
Landen
Landin
Landyn
Related arms
Landenvariant spelling
Dacresrecorded with Landon, same area
Duhurstrecorded with Landon, same area
Mortimerrecorded with Landon, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dunsdorfs, Edgars. Der große schwedische Kataster in Livland 1681–1710. 1974
Raun, Toivo U. Estonia and the Estonians. 2001
Zetterberg, Seppo. Eesti ajalugu. 2009
Estonian Historical Archives (Eesti Ajalooarhiiv), Fond 854: Livonian Land Registry Records
Latvian State Historical Archives (Latvijas Valsts vēstures arhīvs), Fond 4038: Records of the Livonian Nobility
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
