A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gavin family of England.
Reg. 1958 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
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. on a saltire engr. az. five fleurs-de-lis or”
WiltsWilts, c. 1620
Where the Gavin Arms Were Recorded
Wilts
Map of England showing where the Gavin arms are recorded
The Gavin arms were recorded in Wilts, c. 1620.
Wiltshire was sheep country, and wool made money steadily for hundreds of years. Families who made it bought manors on the downs, and holding a manor was the usual reason to take 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 Gavin 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 Wilts.
Origin & History of the Gavin Family in England
The family name Gavin has deep roots that stretch back to the medieval period, primarily emerging from the Gaelic name Gabhainn, which translates to a smith. While the name is famously associated with Irish and Scottish heritage, historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the English county of Wiltshire by 1620. During this era, families often moved across the British Isles for work, trade, or religious reasons, which explains how a name with Celtic origins became embedded in the rural landscape of southern England. By the early 17th century, the Gavins in Wiltshire were likely integrated into the local agricultural or merchant communities, living as common citizens during a time of significant social and political change in England. These early settlers helped shape the local history of the region, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that allow us to track their presence long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gwalchgwyn
Derived from Welsh words meaning white hawk.
This name
GavinA medieval form of Gawain, often interpreted as white hawk or hawk of battle.
also spelled
Gavin
Gavenne
Gavine
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Wiltshire Parish Registers, 1620
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
