Map of England showing where the Ormeston arms are recorded
The Ormeston arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Ormeston 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Ormeston Family in England
The surname Ormeston is a locative name, meaning it likely originated from a specific place or settlement in England. While the exact geographical origin remains a subject of historical study, the name appears in records tied to the county of Essex by the year 1620. During the early seventeenth century, families in this region were often involved in local agriculture or trade, living in small communities that shaped their daily lives and social standing. As the name spread through parish registers and legal documents, it became a marker of the family’s presence in the English countryside. These early ancestors were part of a period of significant social change, where families began to establish deeper roots in their local parishes, leaving behind a trail of records that help us understand their movement and growth across the English landscape.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. three pelicans vulning themselves gu”
HaddingtonHaddington, c. 1748
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Map of Scotland showing where the Ormeston arms are recorded
The Ormeston arms were recorded in Haddington, c. 1748.
Haddington, now East Lothian, was the best farmland in Scotland and lay close to Edinburgh. Good land near the capital stayed in the hands of families of standing, and standing brought 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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in England when the Ormeston arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Haddington.
Origin & History of the Ormeston Family in Scotland
The name Ormeston is deeply rooted in the geography of East Lothian, Scotland, where it originated as a locational surname derived from the lands of Ormiston. The name itself combines the Old Norse personal name Orm, meaning serpent or worm, with the Old English suffix tun, which refers to a farmstead or settlement. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the market town of Haddington. This area was a significant center for agriculture and trade during the 1700s, suggesting that the family likely played an active role in the local economy of the Scottish Lowlands. While the name is tied to the specific village of Ormiston, the family’s presence in Haddington by 1748 illustrates how these early settlers moved within the county to pursue new opportunities in the growing burghs of the region.
Ormeston Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Ormr-tun
Old Norse for serpent or dragon combined with an enclosure or farmstead.
This name
OrmestonRefers to a farmstead or settlement associated with a person named Ormr.
also spelled
Ormiston
Related arms
Ormistonvariant spelling
Hyderecorded with Ormeston, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Smith, J.R., Essex: A History, 1982
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1620
Essex Record Office, Parish Registers of Essex, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bordureA difference between branches of one family
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bordureA difference between branches of one family
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
