A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gambill family of England.
Reg. 2358 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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. a fleur-de-lis or, a chief erm”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gambill Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gambill arms are recorded
The Gambill 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Gambill 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 Gambill Family in England
The Gambill family name traces its roots back to the northern regions of England, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name is believed to be a variation of the older surname Gamble, which originated from the Old Norse personal name Gamall, meaning old or aged. During the medieval period, names often shifted in spelling based on local dialects and the way they sounded to record keepers. By the time the family was established in York, they were likely part of the growing merchant or artisan class that defined the city’s economy during the seventeenth century. These early Gambills lived through a time of significant social change in England, eventually contributing to the migration patterns that would later see the name spread across the Atlantic to the American colonies.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gamel
Old Norse word meaning old or aged.
This name
GambillA patronymic surname derived from the Old Norse personal name Gamel, meaning son of Gamel.
also spelled
Gamble
Gambill
Gambol
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
The National Archives (UK), York City Archives: Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
