A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gibs family of England.
Reg. 2915 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
axeThe execution of military duty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ar. three battle axes in pale sa”
GloucesterSainthurst · Gloucester, c. 1620
Where the Gibs Arms Were Recorded
Gloucester
Map of England showing where the Gibs arms are recorded
The Gibs arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
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 Gibs 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 Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Gibs Family in England
The surname Gibs, often appearing as Gibbs, traces its roots to the medieval period as a patronymic name derived from the given name Gilbert. In the early seventeenth century, members of the family established a presence in Gloucester, Massachusetts, which was a challenging coastal environment for early settlers. These individuals were likely drawn to the region by the promise of the thriving fishing industry and the potential for trade along the Atlantic seaboard. As they integrated into the colonial landscape, the family became part of the foundational structure of the town. They contributed to the development of local governance and the maritime economy that defined early New England life. By settling in this specific geographic hub, the early Gibs family helped shape the growth of one of the oldest maritime communities in the United States.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gilbert
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bright pledge or shining hostage.
This name
GibsA patronymic surname meaning son of Gilbert or son of Gib.
also spelled
Gibb
Gibbe
Related arms
Gibbvariant spelling
Gibbevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Babson, John J., History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Ann, including the Town of Rockport, 1860
Banks, Charles Edward, The Planters of the Commonwealth: A Study of the Emigrants and Emigration in Colonial Times, 1930
Massachusetts State Archives, Colonial Records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1628–1686
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axeThe execution of military duty
axeThe execution of military duty
