A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gaine family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. two bars dancettée gu”
The Gaine 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.
Reigning in England when the Gaine arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Gaine has deep roots in the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were established by the early seventeenth century. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, placing the family in a central location during a time of significant social change in England. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older occupational or descriptive terms, potentially linked to the Middle English word for gain or profit, which suggests that early ancestors may have been involved in local commerce or merchant activities. As the family became part of the urban fabric of York in 1620, they contributed to the long-standing traditions of the region. Their presence in such a prominent city indicates that they were likely integrated into the professional or working life of the community during the reign of King James I.
Old Norse term meaning to gain or obtain.
