Map of England showing where the Wootton arms are recorded
The Wootton 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 Wootton 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 Wootton Family in England
The family name Wootton is a locative surname, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal nickname. The name is derived from the Old English words "wudu," meaning wood, and "tun," meaning an enclosure, village, or town. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to adopt the name lived near or within a woodland settlement. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Wootton family were established in York, a city with a deep history dating back to Roman times. During this period, families often moved toward growing urban centers like York to pursue new opportunities in trade and local government. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of northern England, carrying a name that served as a permanent link to the rural landscapes where their ancestors first settled.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wot-tun
Old English elements meaning wood or enclosure and settlement or town.
This name
WoottonA habitational name referring to a settlement located near a wood or forest.
also spelled
Wooten
Wotone
Related arms
Wotonevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Mills, A.D., A Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1998
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
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saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
