A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gaunt family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5145 · Britain, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Fascé d'or et d'azur, de six ou de huit pièces; à la bande de gu., br. sur le tout. C.: une anille au nat.; ou: une croix pattée au pied fiché de sa.”
Britainc. 1297
Where the Gaunt Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Gaunt arms are recorded
The Gaunt arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1297.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
Edward I of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward I of England
1272–1307
Reigning in Britain when the Gaunt arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Gaunt Family in Britain
The surname Gaunt has deep roots in medieval England, emerging as a descriptive nickname that eventually solidified into a hereditary family name. In the Middle Ages, names were often chosen to reflect a person’s physical appearance or personality. The word gaunt originally described someone who was thin, lean, or haggard in their physical build. By the time the name appeared in the official records of Kent in 1297, it had transitioned from a simple descriptor to a formal way of identifying members of a specific household. These early ancestors were part of a society where surnames were becoming increasingly necessary for tax collection and legal documentation. As the family moved and grew throughout the British Isles, the name persisted as a link to these early, slender-framed individuals who first established the lineage in the southeastern corner of England.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
gauntletA challenge given and the readiness to meet it
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. three gauntlets ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gaunt Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gaunt arms are recorded
The Gaunt arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Britain when the Gaunt 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 England.
Origin & History of the Gaunt Family in England
The surname Gaunt has deep roots in English history, originating as a descriptive nickname for a person who was thin or gaunt in appearance. The name gained prominence following the Norman Conquest when individuals associated with the town of Ghent in modern-day Belgium settled in England and adopted the name as a marker of their origin. By the early 17th century, the family had established a clear presence in the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the Gaunt family were living by 1620. During this period, families in York were often deeply involved in the local trade guilds and the civic life of the city. As the name spread across the northern counties, it evolved from a simple nickname into a stable family identifier that linked generations of people to their specific regional roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
gant
Old French word meaning a glove or gauntlet.
This name
GauntA nickname for a person who wore distinctive gloves or was thin and gaunt.
also spelled
Gaunte
Gauntt
Gont
Gant
Related arms
Couxsame arms
Gantvariant spelling
Healerecorded with Gaunt, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Subsidy Rolls for the County of Kent, E 179/123/10, 1297
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
gauntletA challenge given and the readiness to meet it
