Map of England showing where the Walton arms are recorded
The Walton 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 Walton 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 Walton Family in England
The surname Walton is an ancient English name that originates from Old English words meaning a settlement near a wall or a village surrounded by a protective boundary. Because many places in England share this name, families likely adopted it independently based on where they lived rather than from a single common ancestor. By the early seventeenth century, the name was well-established in the northern regions of England. Historical records confirm that members of the Walton family were living in York by 1620, where they were integrated into the local community during a period of significant social and religious change. These early ancestors were likely tradespeople or landowners who helped shape the city’s economy and daily life during the reign of King James I. Their presence in York highlights the deep roots the family established in northern England long before the era of mass migration.
Walton Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Wealh-tun
Old English for foreigner or Welshman and settlement or enclosure.
This name
WaltonA habitational name referring to a settlement of Britons or foreigners.
also spelled
Waulton
Related arms
Wattonsame arms
Whattonsame arms
Drakelowsimilar arms
Waulton, or Wautonvariant spelling
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate 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.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
