A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gartside family of England.
Reg. 5512 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. on a bend sa. three mullets of the field”
LancasterRochdale · Lancaster, c. 1664
Where the Gartside Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Gartside arms are recorded
The Gartside arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1664.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in England when the Gartside 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Gartside Family in England
The surname Gartside originates from the historic county of Lancashire in Northern England. The name is topographical, meaning it was originally used to describe someone who lived near a specific piece of land. It is derived from the Old English words "garth," which means an enclosed yard or garden, and "side," which refers to a slope or a hillside. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was well-established in the region, with records confirming their presence in Lancashire by 1664. During this era, families with this name were typically involved in the local wool and textile trade, which was the primary economic driver of the area. As the family grew, they became deeply rooted in the local community, often appearing in parish registers and land records that tracked the development of the rural landscape in Northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
geard and side
Old English for enclosure or yard and a slope or hillside.
This name
GartsideRefers to a person who lived near an enclosure situated on a hillside.
also spelled
Garthside
Garteside
Gartyside
Related arms
Garthsidevariant spelling
Midgleyrecorded with Gartside, same area
Molesworthrecorded with Gartside, same area
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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
