A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gaskell family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Erm. three bars vert”
The Gaskell arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
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.
Reigning in England when the Gaskell arms are first recorded.
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.
The Gaskell surname originates from the historic county of Lancashire in North West England. It is a locational name, meaning it was likely taken from a small settlement or a specific geographical feature near the town of Lancaster. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in this region, as evidenced by records of Gaskells living in Lancaster around 1620. During this period, the family members were typically involved in local trade, agriculture, or the growing textile industry that defined the area. As the name spread from its original roots in the countryside, it became closely tied to the development of the towns and villages surrounding the River Lune. The history of the Gaskells reflects the broader story of families who built their lives in the north of England through generations of hard work and community involvement.
Derived from the Old Norse words for goose and spring or ravine.
