A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Garsea family of England.
Reg. 2148 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a lion ramp. or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Garsea Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Garsea arms are recorded
The Garsea 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 Garsea 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 Garsea Family in England
The family name Garsea traces its roots to the historic city of York, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1620. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, placing the Garsea family in a bustling environment shaped by the transition between the Elizabethan era and the Stuart monarchy. The name likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns common in northern England, reflecting the way surnames were often adapted from local speech or specific geographic markers. By settling in such a prominent city, the early Garsea family members were likely integrated into the local economy, participating in the daily life of a community that was deeply connected to the broader political shifts of 17th-century England. Their presence in the city records from this time suggests a stable lineage that helped define the social fabric of the region for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Garcia
A Basque name likely derived from the word for bear.
This name
GarseaAn English variant of a Spanish surname signifying a bear-like or brave warrior.
also spelled
Garsie
Garsay
Garsy
Garsea
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Baines, Edward, History, Directory, and Gazetteer of the County of York, 1822
The National Archives, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, Y/CHB
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
