A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Garvie family of Ireland.
Reg. 7331 · Irish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Erm. two chevronels betw. three crosses pattée gu”
DownAughnagonn · Down, c. 1760
Where the Garvie Arms Were Recorded
Down
Map of Ireland showing where the Garvie arms are recorded
The Garvie arms were recorded in Down, c. 1760.
Down was north-eastern Irish country settled from Scotland in the seventeenth century. The new landowners took grants and had them recorded, which is why so many Down families carry documented shields.
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 Ireland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Ireland when the Garvie arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Down.
Origin & History of the Garvie Family in Ireland
The surname Garvie is primarily associated with Scottish origins, though branches of the family established deep roots in County Down, Ireland, by the mid-eighteenth century. The name is often linked to the Gaelic term garbh, which translates to rough or rugged, and it likely served as a descriptive nickname for a person of sturdy character or someone who lived in a harsh, uneven landscape. By 1760, records indicate that families bearing this name were well-established in the northern parts of Ireland, likely arriving as part of the broader migration patterns between Scotland and Ulster during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. These early settlers in County Down were often involved in agriculture and the growing linen trade, which defined the local economy of the region at that time. As they integrated into their new communities, the Garvie family became part of the distinct social fabric of the area, maintaining their presence through generations of rural life and local industry.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Garbh
An Irish Gaelic adjective meaning rough or coarse.
This name
GarvieDerived from a descriptive nickname for a person who was rough or fierce in nature.
also spelled
Garvie
Garvy
Garveyne
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Freeholders' Records, County Down, 1760
Registry of Deeds, Dublin, Memorials of Deeds, Conveyances and Wills, 1760
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
