A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gedeon family of England.
Reg. 3299 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lambGentleness, patience and faith
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
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 fleece ar. in chief six guttées d'eau”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gedeon Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gedeon arms are recorded
The Gedeon 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Gedeon 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 England.
Origin & History of the Gedeon Family in England
The surname Gedeon is a variation of the ancient biblical name Gideon, which carries the meaning of a mighty warrior or a feller of trees. While the name has deep roots in continental Europe, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the city of York by the year 1620. During this period, York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration, and families living there were often involved in the city’s growing merchant class or local craft guilds. The presence of the Gedeon name in early seventeenth-century York suggests that these ancestors were part of a stable, settled community during a time of significant social change in England. As the family integrated into local life, they contributed to the unique cultural fabric of the region, leaving behind a legacy that connects their lineage to the historic streets and parishes of the city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gideon
Hebrew name meaning hewer or one who cuts down.
This name
GedeonA variant of a biblical name signifying a mighty warrior or feller of trees.
also spelled
Gideon
Gedeoun
Gedean
Related arms
Gideonvariant spelling
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
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Account Rolls, 1620
Reaney, P.H., 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.
lambGentleness, patience and faith
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
lambGentleness, patience and faith
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
