A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gayle family of England.
Reg. 7238 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a fesse ar. fretty of the field”
CornwallCornwall, c. 1620
Where the Gayle Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Gayle arms are recorded
The Gayle arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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 Gayle 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Gayle Family in England
The family name Gayle has deep roots in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, where records confirm members of the family were established by the early seventeenth century. The name is generally believed to be a variation of the Old Norse word *geil*, which refers to a narrow ravine or a small lane. In the context of medieval England, such names were often topographical, meaning they were given to people who lived near a specific local landmark. By 1620, the Gayle family was already integrated into the social fabric of the Cornish countryside, likely working as farmers or tradespeople in the coastal communities. Over many generations, the name evolved in spelling as it moved through local parish registers, reflecting the unique linguistic traditions of the southwestern peninsula of England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gail
Old Norse word meaning cheerful or lively.
This name
GayleA topographical surname for someone who lived near a pleasant or cheerful place.
also spelled
Gaile
Gayle
Gail
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
Cornwall Archives, Parish Registers of Cornwall, 1600–1650
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
