A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gainsborough family of England.
Reg. 7227 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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. three chev. ar. a canton erm”
SurreyCrowhurst · Surrey, c. 1620
Where the Gainsborough Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Gainsborough arms are recorded
The Gainsborough arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 Gainsborough 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Gainsborough Family in England
The family name Gainsborough is a locative surname, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place name rather than a trade or personal characteristic. The name traces its origins to the town of Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, which sits along the banks of the River Trent. During the medieval period, people who moved away from their home village were often identified by their place of origin, leading to the name being adopted by families as they migrated across England. By the early 17th century, records confirm that members of the family had established themselves in the county of Surrey by 1620. This migration pattern reflects the broader movement of English families during the seventeenth century as they sought new opportunities in growing regional centers. The name has since become a part of the historical fabric of southern England, linking the family’s later presence in Surrey back to their ancestral roots in the northern reaches of the country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gegenes burh
Old English for a fortified enclosure belonging to a person named Gægen.
This name
GainsboroughRefers to a settlement or fortified town associated with an individual named Gægen.
also spelled
Gainsborow
Gainsborowe
Gainsboro
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
Surrey History Centre, Parish Register Transcripts for Surrey, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
