A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gaynsford family of England.
Reg. 2764 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 chev. gu. betw. three greyhounds courant sa. collared or”
OxfordIdbury · Oxford, c. 1566
Where the Gaynsford Arms Were Recorded
Oxford
Map of England showing where the Gaynsford arms are recorded
The Gaynsford arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1566.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Gaynsford 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Gaynsford Family in England
The surname Gaynsford is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, likely originating as a topographic name for someone who lived near a ford belonging to a person named Gain. While the family name appears in various spellings throughout history, records confirm that members of the Gaynsford family were well-established in Oxford by 1566. During this period, the family was integrated into the local community, often appearing in university and parish registers as the city grew into a prominent center of learning and trade. These early ancestors were part of the rising middle class, navigating the social and economic shifts of the sixteenth century as they settled into life within the university town. Their presence in Oxford suggests a long-standing connection to the region, where they contributed to the local history of the area through their work and daily lives.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gainsford
A ford belonging to a person named Gain.
This name
GaynsfordDerived from a location in Surrey, referring to a river crossing associated with an individual.
also spelled
Gainsford
Gaynsforth
Gainsforth
Related arms
Gainsfordvariant spelling
Lokyerrecorded with Gaynsford, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Clark, Andrew, Register of the University of Oxford, 1887
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
