A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Naunton family of England.
Reg. 4923 · English, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. a lion ramp. or, ducally crowned ar. betw. three crosses crosslet of the second”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Naunton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Naunton arms are recorded
The Naunton 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 Naunton 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 Naunton Family in England
The surname Naunton is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people by the place where they lived. It is derived from the Old English words "naw," meaning a valley or a hollow, and "tun," which refers to an enclosed settlement or farmstead. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York, as evidenced by records from 1620. During this period, York was a major center for trade and administration in Northern England. Families living in the city at that time were often involved in the merchant guilds or local government, which helped them secure their standing in the community. As the family grew, they moved through different regions of England, but their roots remained tied to the specific geographic features that first inspired their name.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
tun
An Old English term for an enclosure, farmstead, or settlement.
This name
NauntonDerived from a place name meaning a new settlement or farmstead.
also spelled
Nauntoun
Nauntun
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Smith, A.H., The Place-Names of Gloucestershire, 1964
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
