A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gascoyne family of England.
Reg. 3001 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. on a pale sa. a demi lucy (or conger's head) erect couped or”
BedfordCardington · Bedford, c. 1620
Where the Gascoyne Arms Were Recorded
Bedford
Map of England showing where the Gascoyne arms are recorded
The Gascoyne arms were recorded in Bedford, c. 1620.
Bedfordshire was small, flat farming country close to London. Its manors were held by middling families rather than great ones, but a manor was a manor, and holding one brought 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 Gascoyne 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 Bedford.
Origin & History of the Gascoyne Family in England
The surname Gascoyne is a locative name, meaning it was originally used to identify people who came from the region of Gascony in southwestern France. During the Middle Ages, many individuals moved across the English Channel for trade, military service, or political reasons, and they often adopted the name of their homeland as a way to distinguish themselves in their new communities. By the time the family was firmly established in Bedford by 1620, the name had evolved from a regional identifier into a permanent hereditary surname. These early settlers in Bedford were part of a growing class of landowners and local officials who helped shape the development of the town during the early seventeenth century. Over several generations, the family became deeply integrated into the local culture, moving away from their continental origins to become a recognized part of the English gentry.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gascon
A person originating from the Gascony region of southwestern France.
This name
GascoyneAn occupational or locative surname denoting someone who came from the Gascony region.
also spelled
Gascoigne
Gascoine
Gaskoin
Related arms
Gascoignevariant spelling
Gascoinevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
