canton

In heraldry, a canton refers to a specific area within a shield, typically the top inner quarter. It can also describe a heraldic cross that has a charge in each of its four angular spaces between the branches.12

Heraldry itself is the art and science of creating, displaying, and granting armorial insignia, as well as tracing and recording genealogies. This system of identification, using symbols called "coats of arms," became widespread among European nobility in the 13th century. These arms are often displayed on a shield and can include a crest, which was added in the 14th century and modeled after a helmet. In European monarchies, heraldic arms are legally protected and are hereditary, passed down through male descendants.3