A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gerson family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8778 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Vert a cross engr. or”
LancasterGerson · Lancaster, c. 1620
Where the Gerson Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Gerson arms are recorded
The Gerson arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 France when the Gerson 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Gerson Family in England
The history of the Gerson family in England begins with roots firmly planted in the northwest region of Lancashire by the early seventeenth century. Records indicate that members of the family were established in this area as early as 1620, living during a time of significant social and religious change in England. The name itself is often linked to the Hebrew name Gershom, which translates to a stranger there, suggesting that the family likely descended from individuals who migrated across Europe before settling in the British Isles. In the context of seventeenth-century Lancashire, families like the Gersons were often involved in local trade, agriculture, or the growing textile industry that defined the region. By maintaining a presence in Lancaster, these early ancestors became part of the local fabric of the town, contributing to the community as it navigated the political tensions of the era. Their survival and growth in this specific part of England highlight the resilience of families who moved to new lands to build stable lives for future generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gershom
A Hebrew name meaning an exile or a stranger there.
This name
GersonA locative surname derived from the biblical name indicating a person living in exile.
also spelled
Gersone
Gersonn
Gersun
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
