Map of France showing where the Ghose arms are recorded
The Ghose arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Ghose arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Normandie.
Origin & History of the Ghose Family in France
The family name Ghose traces its early European roots to the lush landscapes of Normandy during the mid-seventeenth century. Records confirm that members of the family were established in this northern French region by 1663, a time when the area was recovering from the political shifts of the previous decades. During this period, families in Normandy were often tied to the land and local trade, benefiting from the region's strong agricultural output and its proximity to the English Channel. The name likely evolved as a localized variation of regional surnames, reflecting the phonetic habits of the Norman people at the time. By living in Normandy, these early ancestors were part of a society that valued community ties and local craftsmanship, which helped the family name persist through generations of social and economic change in France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, fretty az. on a pile engr. sa. three pheons ar”
SurreyEpsom · Surrey, c. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Ghose arms are recorded
The Ghose arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 France when the Ghose 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Ghose Family in England
The history of the Ghose family in England begins with documented records of members residing in the county of Surrey as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, the name appeared in local parish registers, which served as the primary method for tracking births, marriages, and deaths in English communities. While the name is often associated with later migration patterns from South Asia, these early records suggest that individuals carrying this name were integrated into the fabric of English society during the Stuart period. These early settlers likely navigated the social and economic shifts of the time, such as the growth of trade and the expansion of local administrative record-keeping. By establishing a presence in Surrey, these early family members became part of the long history of diverse surnames that settled in the English countryside, contributing to the local community life of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ghos
A Germanic term referring to a guest or a stranger.
This name
GhoseA surname historically denoting a visitor or an outsider within a community.
also spelled
Gozze
Gose
Goss
Goz
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil (1663)
Boudet, Jacques, Les noms de famille en Normandie, 1985
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
