A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Garlington family of England.
Reg. 3178 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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. three gadbees volant ar”
HerefordHereford, c. 1620
Where the Garlington Arms Were Recorded
Hereford
Map of England showing where the Garlington arms are recorded
The Garlington arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1620.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known by.
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 Garlington 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Garlington Family in England
The Garlington family name is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, specifically within the western regions near the Welsh border. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the county of Hereford. The name itself likely originated as a locative surname, meaning it was used to identify individuals based on the specific village or farmstead where they resided. During the seventeenth century, families in this region were often involved in local agriculture and the wool trade, which were the primary economic drivers of the Hereford area. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, eventually participating in the westward migration that saw many English families seek new opportunities across the Atlantic. This transition marked the beginning of the Garlington presence in the American colonies, where they continued to maintain the traditions and naming patterns established in their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerling
Derived from the Germanic personal name Gerlo, meaning spear strength.
This name
GarlingtonRefers to the settlement or estate belonging to the descendants of Gerlo.
also spelled
Garlingtoun
Garlingten
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Probate records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1620
Herefordshire Archives and Records Centre, Parish registers of the Diocese of Hereford, 1620
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beeIndustry, order and tireless work
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
