A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gayner family of Ireland.
Reg. 3745 · Irish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Per pale gu. and vert a lion saliant betw. three trefoils or”
LongfordLongford, c. 1666
Where the Gayner Arms Were Recorded
Longford
Map of Ireland showing where the Gayner arms are recorded
The Gayner arms were recorded in Longford, c. 1666.
Longford was small midland Irish country of bog and grazing. Its landed families were few but held their ground for centuries, and long holding fills a register.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in Ireland when the Gayner arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Longford.
Origin & History of the Gayner Family in Ireland
The family name Gayner has deep roots in the Irish Midlands, with clear evidence of the family residing in County Longford as early as 1666. During this period, the region was undergoing significant social and land ownership changes following the Cromwellian settlement. Families like the Gayners were often tenant farmers or local tradespeople who navigated the complex political landscape of the seventeenth century to maintain their hold on the land. While the name likely evolved from older Gaelic or Anglo-Norman roots, its presence in Longford suggests that the family was well-established within the local community long before the modern era. By remaining in the same region for generations, the Gayner family became a part of the enduring history of the Irish midlands, surviving through periods of economic hardship and rural transformation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaine
Derived from the Irish word gaineamh meaning sand or sandy soil.
This name
GaynerAn occupational or topographical name referring to someone who lived on sandy ground.
also spelled
Gainor
Gainer
Gayner
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
National Archives of Ireland, The Hearth Money Rolls for County Longford, 1666
National Library of Ireland, Genealogical Office Manuscripts
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees: Or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, 1892
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
lionCourage, strength and royalty
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
