A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gam family of Wales.
Reg. 1380 · Welsh, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. three cocks gu”
Walesc. 1647
Where the Gam Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Gam arms are recorded
The Gam arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat of 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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Wales when the Gam 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 Wales.
Origin & History of the Gam Family in Wales
The surname Gam has deep roots in the Welsh language, where the word "gam" historically described a person with a physical trait like a limp or a squint. In the medieval period, Welsh naming traditions often relied on descriptive nicknames to distinguish between individuals in small communities. By the time members of the family were documented in Denbigh in 1647, the name had transitioned from a simple nickname into a formal hereditary surname passed down through generations. The presence of the family in Denbigh during the mid-seventeenth century suggests they were part of the local social fabric during a time of great political upheaval in Britain. As the family established themselves in this region, they became part of the long history of Welsh families who helped shape the cultural identity of the area through their daily work and community involvement.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
cam
A Welsh adjective meaning crooked, bent, or awry.
This name
GamA descriptive nickname historically applied to someone with a physical deformity or a squint.
also spelled
Gamme
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Morgan, T. J. and Morgan, Prys, Welsh Surnames, 1985
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
