Map of England showing where the Letton arms are recorded
The Letton arms were recorded in Hertford, c. 1620.
Hertfordshire lay just north of London and filled with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate within a day's ride was the usual next step, and an estate brought arms with it.
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 Letton 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 Hertford.
Origin & History of the Letton Family in England
The surname Letton is a locative name, which means it likely originated from a specific place or settlement. In Old English, the name is thought to derive from a combination of words meaning a town or enclosure near a slope or a riverbank. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the market town of Hertford. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Letton family were living and working in this area during the reign of King James I. At that time, Hertford was a busy administrative and trading hub, and families like the Lettons were often involved in local commerce or the skilled trades necessary to support a growing town. Over the following generations, the family name became firmly rooted in the region, reflecting the typical movement and settlement patterns of English families during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Laet
Old English term referring to a semi-free peasant or tenant farmer.
This name
LettonA locative surname denoting someone who lived at or near a settlement of tenant farmers.
also spelled
Letone
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Hertford St Andrew Parish Registers, D/P 48/1/1
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bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
