A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gadsden family of England.
Reg. 9825 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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)
“Ar. two palets sa. in chief three mullets of the second”
HertfordHertford, c. 1620
Where the Gadsden Arms Were Recorded
Hertford
Map of England showing where the Gadsden arms are recorded
The Gadsden arms were recorded in Hertford, c. 1620.
Hertfordshire lay just north of London and filled with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate within a day's ride was the usual next step, and an estate brought arms with it.
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 Gadsden 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 Hertford.
Origin & History of the Gadsden Family in England
The Gadsden family name is rooted in the English county of Hertfordshire, where records confirm members of the family lived as early as 1620. The name is considered a locative surname, which means it likely originated from a specific place or settlement known to local residents. During the seventeenth century, the Gadsden family was part of the growing population in the market towns and rural parishes surrounding Hertford. As the family established themselves in this region, they became integrated into the local agricultural and trade economies that defined life in the English countryside. Over time, the name spread from these initial settlements as family members moved to find new opportunities, eventually carrying the Gadsden name across the Atlantic to the American colonies and beyond.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gadsden
Derived from the Old English personal name Gædd and the word denu.
This name
GadsdenA topographical name referring to a valley belonging to a person named Gædd.
also spelled
Gaddesdon
Gadsden
Gadsdon
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Cussans, John Edwin. History of Hertfordshire. 1870–1881
Page, William. A History of the County of Hertford. 1902–1912
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
