A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gisors family of England.
Reg. 6321 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
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. a lion ramp. betw. ten billets sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gisors Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gisors arms are recorded
The Gisors 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Gisors 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 England.
Origin & History of the Gisors Family in England
The name Gisors originates from a town in the Normandy region of France, where a powerful fortress was built during the eleventh century. Families who took this name often held positions of influence or served as administrators near this strategic stronghold. By the early seventeenth century, members of the family had migrated across the English Channel to settle in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm their presence in this historic northern English city, where they integrated into the local community as merchants and tradespeople. This transition from a French regional identity to an established presence in England reflects the broader patterns of movement and social change that defined the lives of many families during the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gisulf
Derived from the Germanic elements for hostage and wolf.
This name
GisorsA locative surname originating from the town of Gisors in Normandy, France.
also spelled
Gysors
Gisores
Gyssors
Related arms
Gysorsvariant spelling
Gyssorsvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bauduin, Pierre, La première Normandie (Xe-XIe siècles): Sur les frontières de la haute Normandie, 2004
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York, Archbishop of York’s Diocesan Records, V.1620
Chibnall, Marjorie, The Normans, 2000
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
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
lionCourage, strength and royalty
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
