Map of England showing where the Stoner arms are recorded
The Stoner arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1574.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Stoner 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Stoner Family in England
The surname Stoner is primarily rooted in the English landscape, serving as a topographic name for individuals who lived near a stony area or a rocky outcrop. By the late sixteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the university city of Oxford. Records from 1574 confirm that members of the Stoner family were active residents in this region during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local community, often appearing in legal documents and parish registers that tracked the lives of tradespeople and landowners. This connection to Oxford suggests that early ancestors were likely involved in the academic or mercantile life that defined the city during the Renaissance. Over time, the name evolved alongside the family, reflecting both their geographical origins and their long-standing history within the heart of England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Stan
Old English word for stone or rock.
This name
StonerA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent stony area or rocky outcrop.
also spelled
Stonor
Related arms
Stonorvariant spelling
Amyattrecorded with Stoner, same area
Bealerecorded with Stoner, same area
Bruynerecorded with Stoner, same area
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
Oxfordshire Archives, Oxford City Council Records: Records of the Freemen of Oxford, 1574
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
