A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gabb family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1739 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. two swords in saltire, points upward ar. pommels and hilts or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gabb Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gabb arms are recorded
The Gabb 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 Gabb 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 Gabb Family in England
The surname Gabb is rooted in the medieval tradition of occupational and descriptive naming, likely emerging as a shortened form of the name Gabriel or as a nickname for someone with a sharp or pointed personality. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Gabb family were active participants in the local community during this period of significant social and religious change in Northern England. As York served as a major hub for trade and administration, families like the Gabbs often integrated into the urban fabric by working as skilled tradespeople or merchants. This early documented presence suggests that the family was well-settled in the region, contributing to the growth and daily life of one of England’s oldest and most influential cities long before the industrial expansion of the later centuries.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, same Arms; 2nd and 3rd, ar. two chev. sa., for ASHE, being maternally descended from D'ESSE, D'ESSECOURT, or ASHE, a family which was established in England at the Conquest, and from which derived the ASHES, of Clyst, Fornyson, Heytesbury, Freshfield, Langley, &c. Same Crest and Motto”
MonmouthShire Newton · Monmouth, c. 1647
Where the Gabb Arms Were Recorded
Monmouth
Map of Wales showing where the Gabb arms are recorded
The Gabb arms were recorded in Monmouth, c. 1647.
Monmouthshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families were expected to arm and to fight, and fighting households carried shields of their own.
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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in England when the Gabb arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Monmouth.
Origin & History of the Gabb Family in Wales
The surname Gabb has deep roots in the borderlands of Wales, particularly within the historic county of Monmouthshire. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was firmly established in the town of Monmouth, where records confirm their presence as early as 1647. During this era, the region served as a strategic crossroads between Welsh and English cultural influences, and families like the Gabbs often occupied roles as local landowners or tradespeople. The name itself likely evolved as a descriptive nickname or a shortened form of a longer personal name common in the medieval period. As the family grew, they became integrated into the social and economic life of the Wye Valley, leaving a trail of legal documents and parish entries that trace their steady influence in the area for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gabriel
Hebrew origin meaning God is my strength.
This name
GabbA medieval diminutive form of the name Gabriel, often used as a nickname.
also spelled
Gabe
Related arms
Ruddrecorded with Gabb, same area
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
The National Archives, Yorkshire Parish Registers, 1620
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swordJustice, and military honour
swordJustice, and military honour
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
