A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gearing family of England.
Reg. 9357 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. two bars or, on each three mascles of the first, on a canton ar. a leopard's face of the first”
LincolnWinterton · Lincoln, c. 1620
Where the Gearing Arms Were Recorded
Lincoln
Map of England showing where the Gearing arms are recorded
The Gearing arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1620.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Gearing 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 Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Gearing Family in England
The surname Gearing is rooted in the linguistic traditions of medieval England, likely originating as a descriptive name derived from the Old English word "gear," which referred to equipment or gear used in daily labor. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of Lincoln. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Gearing family were active residents in this region, which served as a major hub for trade and administration during the Stuart period. Living in a cathedral city like Lincoln suggests that early family members were likely involved in the local merchant class or skilled trades that supported the growing urban economy of the time. Over the following generations, the family name became firmly associated with the social and economic fabric of Lincolnshire, reflecting the broader patterns of English migration and settlement during the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gera
An ancient Germanic element meaning spear.
This name
GearingA patronymic name denoting the son of a spear-wielder or warrior.
also spelled
Gering
Gearin
Geering
Related arms
Geeringvariant spelling
Geringvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Lincolnshire Archives, Lincoln Consistory Court Wills, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
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