Map of England showing where the Worton arms are recorded
The Worton 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 Worton 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 Worton Family in England
The surname Worton is a locational name, meaning it was originally taken from a place where a family lived. In Old English, the name is derived from the words "wyrt," meaning a plant or herb, and "tun," which refers to an enclosed piece of land or a settlement. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived near a vegetable garden or a cultivated herb patch. By 1620, records confirm that members of the Worton family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families living there were often involved in the local craft guilds or the wool industry. Because the name is tied to specific geography, it is likely that different branches of the family emerged independently in various parts of England where similar settlements existed. Over time, as these individuals moved for work or marriage, the name spread from these small rural enclosures into the growing urban centers of the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Worth-tun
An enclosed homestead or settlement.
This name
WortonRefers to someone who lived at or near an enclosed farmstead or village.
also spelled
Wrotten
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, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of York
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
