A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gedye 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)“Gu. (another purp.) three old men's heads couped at the shoulders ar. crined ppr”
The Gedye 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 Gedye 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 Gedye is a distinct name with deep roots in the northern regions of England. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in the historic city of York, where records confirm their presence by 1620. The name likely originated as a nickname or a variant of personal names common in the Middle Ages, such as those derived from the name Geoffrey. During this period, families in York were often part of the growing merchant class or skilled tradespeople who helped define the city’s economy. As the family grew, members moved through the northern counties, leaving behind traces in parish registers and local legal documents that track their movement from city centers into the surrounding rural districts. This transition reflects the broader social changes of the time, as families sought new opportunities in trade and land management across Yorkshire.
Derived from the Hebrew name meaning hewer or feller of trees.
