A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gatchell family of England.
Reg. 7696 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Erm. a garb az. on a canton of the second an annulet or”
SomersetSomerset, c. 1620
Where the Gatchell Arms Were Recorded
Somerset
Map of England showing where the Gatchell arms are recorded
The Gatchell arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Gatchell 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Gatchell Family in England
The Gatchell family name has deep roots in the English county of Somerset, where records confirm their presence as early as the year 1620. During this period, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Gatchell, Gatcheld, or Gatchells, reflecting the inconsistent spelling habits of the seventeenth century. The family likely lived as tenant farmers or tradespeople within the rural parishes of the West Country. By the mid-1600s, some members of the family chose to leave England to seek new opportunities in the American colonies, particularly in Massachusetts. This migration was part of a larger movement of families from Somerset who crossed the Atlantic to establish homesteads in a new land. Throughout these early generations, the Gatchells remained closely tied to the agricultural traditions of their origins, helping to shape the development of early colonial settlements.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gache
An Old French term derived from the word for a hook.
This name
GatchellA locational or occupational surname likely referring to someone who lived near a hooked bend.
also spelled
Gatchele
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Banks, Charles Edward, The Planters of the Commonwealth, 1930
Cutter, William Richard, Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts, 1910
Somerset Heritage Centre, Diocese of Bath and Wells Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
