A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Garrick family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3497 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à une tour de gu.; au 2 d'azur à un cheval marin d'arg., criné, lorré et peutré d'or, soutenu d'un mont de sin. Au chef de l'écu d'or, br. sur le parti et ch. de trois étoiles d'azur. C.: une étoile d'or [Armes du célèbre acteur, David G.]”
MiddlesexMiddlesex, c. 1725
Where the Garrick Arms Were Recorded
Map of France showing where the Garrick arms are recorded
The Garrick arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1725.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Garrick arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Garrick Family in France
The name Garrick is widely believed to have originated from the French name Garric, which was a topographical surname used to describe someone who lived near a grove of oak trees. The root word comes from the Old Occitan term garric, meaning a scrub oak or a place where such trees grow. During the late seventeenth century, many families bearing this name fled France due to religious persecution following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. These Huguenot refugees often settled in England to escape political and social pressure. By the time the family became well-established in Middlesex in 1725, they had successfully transitioned from their French roots into the fabric of English society. This migration pattern explains how a name rooted in the landscapes of southern France eventually became a prominent fixture in British history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Per pale or and az. on the dexter compartment a tower gu. and on the sinister on a mount vert a seahorse ar. mane, fins, and tail of the first, on a chief gold three mullets of the second”
MiddlesexHampton · Middlesex, c. 1620
Where the Garrick Arms Were Recorded
Middlesex
Map of England showing where the Garrick arms are recorded
The Garrick arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1620.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 France when the Garrick 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 Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Garrick Family in England
The surname Garrick is believed to have roots in the northern regions of England, though by the early seventeenth century, the family established a notable presence in Middlesex. Historical records confirm that members of the Garrick family were settled in this area by 1620, placing them near the growing influence of London during a time of significant social and economic change. The name itself is often linked to the Old French word garric, which refers to a type of scrub oak, suggesting that the family may have originally taken their name from a specific landscape or a place where these trees were common. As the family integrated into English society, they moved away from their rural origins and became part of the urban development that defined the Middlesex region. Over the following decades, the name became increasingly associated with the professional and artistic life of England, marking a transition from local landowners or laborers to figures of broader historical interest.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gari
A Germanic element meaning spear or lance.
This name
GarrickDerived from a name meaning spear ruler or one who governs with a spear.
also spelled
Garric
Garricke
Garrik
Garik
Garrike
Related arms
Garrigvariant spelling
Bromleyrecorded with Garrick, same area
Cocketrecorded with Garrick, same area
Frederickrecorded with Garrick, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Gwynn, Robin, The Huguenots of London, 1998
The National Archives, Naturalization and Denization Records, series HO 1
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
horseReadiness to serve king and country
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
horseReadiness to serve king and country
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
