A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gace family of England.
Reg. 0463 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. three swords in bend ar. hilts and pommels or, points upward”
EnglandLondon, c. 1649
Where the Gace Arms Were Recorded
London
Map of England showing where the Gace arms are recorded
The Gace arms were recorded in London, c. 1649.
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.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in England when the Gace 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 Gace Family in England
The surname Gace possesses roots that reach back into the medieval period, likely originating as a diminutive form of the name Gase or Gace, which were common nicknames in parts of France and England during the Middle Ages. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family established a notable presence in London, a city that served as a bustling hub for trade and social mobility during the turbulent era of the English Civil War. Records from 1649 confirm that members of the Gace family were active participants in the life of the capital, navigating a society undergoing profound political and religious shifts. As London grew into a global center for commerce, these early family members likely engaged in the merchant trades or professional guilds that defined the city’s economy. Their presence in such a central location suggests that the family was well-integrated into the urban fabric of England during one of the most transformative centuries in the nation's history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gratia
Latin term meaning grace, favor, or thanks.
This name
GaceA medieval diminutive derived from the word for grace, often denoting a graceful or pleasant person.
also spelled
Gase
Gasse
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, Interregnum, 1649
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swordJustice, and military honour
swordJustice, and military honour
