A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gams family of Wales.
Reg. 5031 · Welsh, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
Colours
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)
“Sa. a chev. betw. three spears' heads embrued ppr”
WalesNewton, c. 1647
Where the Gams Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Gams arms are recorded
The Gams arms were recorded in Newton, 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 Gams 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 Gams Family in Wales
The history of the Gams family name is deeply rooted in the market town of Denbigh, located in North Wales. Records confirm that members of the family were established residents of this area by 1647, a time when the town was recovering from the intense conflicts of the English Civil War. The name itself is thought to have originated as a descriptive term or a nickname, potentially derived from Middle English or older Germanic roots that referred to a person with long or crooked legs. As the family settled into life in Denbigh, they became part of the local community during a period of significant social and political change. Over the following generations, the family name persisted within the region, reflecting the quiet endurance of local lineages that helped shape the history of Welsh market towns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gamm
Old Norse term for a person with a crooked or bent limb.
This name
GamsA descriptive nickname for an individual who was physically lame or bow-legged.
also spelled
Gamm
Game
Gamme
Related arms
Gamevariant spelling
Gammevariant spelling
Gamesrecorded with Gams, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Denbighshire Archives, Parish Registers of Denbigh (St. Marcella’s), 1647
Dodd, A.H., A History of Wales in the Early Modern Period, 1951
National Library of Wales, Records of the Court of Great Sessions for Denbighshire, 1647
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
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
