Map of England showing where the Onstott arms are recorded
The Onstott 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 Onstott 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 Onstott Family in England
The family name Onstott is believed to have roots in Northern Europe, with historical evidence placing early members in the city of York by 1620. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religious transition, which likely influenced the movement and settlement patterns of families in the region. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older Germanic or Dutch surnames that evolved as families migrated across the North Sea to England. These early ancestors were likely craftsmen or merchants who integrated into the local community, leaving behind records in parish registers and tax documents. By establishing themselves in a major urban hub like York, the family became part of the shifting social fabric of seventeenth-century England, setting the stage for later generations to expand further across the British Isles and eventually to North America.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aun-stot
Old Norse elements meaning ancestor or grandfather and a place of standing.
This name
OnstottA topographical name for someone who lived near a prominent ancestral standing stone or marker.
also spelled
Onskott
Onskot
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
