A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gayne family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. two bars dancettée gu”
The Gayne 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.
Reigning in England when the Gayne arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Gayne has roots that trace back to the northern regions of England, with documented evidence placing the family in the historic city of York by the year 1620. During the early seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, providing a stable environment for families to establish their livelihoods. The name likely evolved as a descriptive term or a variation of older occupational or locational names common in the Yorkshire area. As the family became integrated into the local community, they participated in the social and economic life of the city during a period of significant change in English history. By settling in such a prominent urban hub, the early members of the Gayne family were positioned to influence and be influenced by the regional culture of Northern England for generations to come.
Old Norse word meaning to gain or to obtain.
