Map of England showing where the Stoughton arms are recorded
The Stoughton arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1329.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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.
Edward III of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward III of England
1327–1377
Reigning in England when the Stoughton 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Stoughton Family in England
The surname Stoughton originates from a place name in England, specifically referring to a "stow-town" or a fortified settlement. By the year 1329, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the county of Surrey. During this period, the family held significant land interests, particularly at Stoughton Manor near Guildford. The name itself reflects the medieval practice of identifying families by the specific locations where they lived and worked. Over the following centuries, the family grew in local influence and became deeply connected to the social and political life of the region. Their early presence in Surrey suggests they were landowners who played an active role in the management of local estates and community affairs.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
stoc and tun
Old English for a tree trunk or post and an enclosure.
This name
StoughtonA settlement or farmstead located near a prominent post, tree, or boundary marker.
also spelled
Stotton
Stocton
Related arms
Staughtonvariant spelling
Bristowrecorded with Stoughton, same area
Cranerecorded with Stoughton, same area
Edmondsrecorded with Stoughton, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Brayley, Edward Wedlake. A Topographical History of Surrey. 1841
Surrey History Centre. Manorial Records of Stoughton, Guildford. Series 148/1
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