Map of England showing where the Rowton arms are recorded
The Rowton 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 Rowton 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 Rowton Family in England
The surname Rowton is a locational name, which means it was originally derived from the specific place where a family lived. Historical records confirm that the family was well-established in the city of York by 1620, a time when the city served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration. The name itself likely comes from Old English roots, combining the word for a rough or uncultivated area with the word for a settlement or farm. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name were likely farmers or landholders who lived near a distinct patch of rugged terrain. As families moved from these rural areas into the bustling streets of York during the early seventeenth century, they carried the name with them, cementing its place in the city's local history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ruh tun
Old English for rough or uncultivated land and a settlement.
This name
RowtonRefers to a person who lived at a settlement located on rough or uncultivated ground.
also spelled
Rowten
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York, Archbishop of York’s Diocesan Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
owlWisdom and vigilance by night
owlWisdom and vigilance by night
