Map of Ireland showing where the Gauff arms are recorded
The Gauff arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Gauff 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 Ireland.
Origin & History of the Gauff Family in Ireland
The family name Gauff carries a history that connects to the vibrant urban life of seventeenth-century Ireland. By 1645, records confirm that members of the Gauff family were established residents of Dublin. During this period, Dublin was a bustling center of trade and political change, serving as a hub for families navigating the complex social landscape of the mid-1600s. While the name is relatively rare, its presence in the capital city suggests that early ancestors were likely involved in the professional or mercantile activities that defined the city’s growth. These early Gauff individuals lived through a transformative era in Irish history, leaving behind a legacy that marks them as part of the foundational population of Dublin during the mid-seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Goff
Derived from the Old Irish word for a smith or metalworker.
This name
GauffAn occupational surname identifying an ancestor who worked as a blacksmith.
also spelled
Gafte
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Archives of Ireland, The Civil Survey, A.D. 1654–1656
Simington, Robert C., The Civil Survey, A.D. 1654–1656, County of Dublin, 1945
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
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