A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gellatly family of England.
Reg. 7552 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
plant thistleDefiance, and the defence of Scotland
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Erm. issuing from an antique crown or, a demi lion ramp. with two tails gu. holding in the dexter paw a thistle ppr”
EssexLoughton · Essex, c. 1870
Where the Gellatly Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Gellatly arms are recorded
The Gellatly arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1870.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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.
Victoria
Sovereign of the period
Victoria
1837–1901
Reigning in England when the Gellatly 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Gellatly Family in England
The surname Gellatly is primarily associated with the region of Perthshire in Scotland, where it emerged as a locational name derived from the lands of Gellatly. While the family name has deep roots in the Scottish Highlands, members of the family eventually migrated across the British Isles in search of new opportunities. By the year 1870, records confirm that the Gellatly family had established a notable presence in the county of Essex in England. During this period, families with this name were often involved in local trade and agricultural development, which helped them integrate into the growing communities of the Victorian era. The transition from their ancestral Scottish origins to the southern landscapes of Essex reflects the broader patterns of internal migration that shaped many British families during the nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gell
A medieval diminutive form of the Germanic name Geoffrey or Gilbert.
This name
GellatlyA patronymic surname derived from the son or descendant of a person named Gell.
also spelled
Gellatley
Gellatlie
Related arms
Gallightlyvariant spelling
Harrisrecorded with Gellatly, same area
Stonardrecorded with Gellatly, same area
Stonerdrecorded with Gellatly, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser. The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History. 1946
The National Archives. Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Series RG 10
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
plant thistleDefiance, and the defence of Scotland
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
plant thistleDefiance, and the defence of Scotland
