A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gayer family of England.
Reg. 4508 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. a fleur-de-lis sa”
BerksFoxley · Berks, c. 1620
Where the Gayer Arms Were Recorded
Berks
Map of England showing where the Gayer arms are recorded
The Gayer arms were recorded in Berks, c. 1620.
Berkshire sat on the road west from London with the royal castle at Windsor in the middle of it. Court families bought estates within reach, and an estate near the court almost always came with a coat 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Gayer 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 Berks.
Origin & History of the Gayer Family in England
The surname Gayer is rooted in the linguistic traditions of medieval Europe, where it functioned as a descriptive nickname for a person with a cheerful or lighthearted personality. The name is derived from the Old French word gai, which evolved into the Middle English term gayer to describe someone who was particularly lively or festive. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the English county of Berks. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Gayer family were settled in this region, where they participated in the local agricultural and social life of the era. As the family grew, they became integrated into the fabric of their communities, contributing to the local economy and the development of the Berkshire landscape during a time of significant social change in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
gaier
Middle High German term for a person who is cheerful or gay.
This name
GayerAn occupational or descriptive surname referring to a lighthearted, merry, or jovial individual.
also spelled
Gaire
Gayre
Related arms
Sayersame arms
Gairvariant spelling
Gairevariant spelling
Davenportrecorded with Gayer, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
Berkshire Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
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fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
