A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Garen family of England.
Reg. 1100 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Chequy or and az. a chief of the first”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Garen Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Garen arms are recorded
The Garen 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 Garen 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 Garen Family in England
The surname Garen has deep roots in the historical landscape of northern England, with documented evidence placing the family in the city of York by the year 1620. During the early seventeenth century, York was a bustling hub of trade and religious transition, and families like the Garens were often tied to the local merchant guilds or the skilled craft trades that defined the city’s economy. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older occupational or locational surnames, potentially evolving from regional dialects that were common in Yorkshire at the time. As the family established themselves in this urban center, they became part of the social fabric of a city that served as the administrative heart of the north. By settling in York during this period, the early members of the Garen family were positioned at the center of significant cultural and economic shifts that shaped the development of the region for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Garin
Derived from the Germanic element warin meaning guard or protection.
This name
GarenA variant of the name Guarin, signifying a guardian or protector.
also spelled
Garenne
Garrene
Related arms
Garranvariant spelling
Garrenevariant spelling
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
York City Archives, York Freemen’s Register, 1272–1759
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
