A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gittings family of England.
Reg. 8770 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. on a fesse betw. three goats' heads erased ar. as many pellets”
SalopSalop, c. 1620
Where the Gittings Arms Were Recorded
Salop
Map of England showing where the Gittings arms are recorded
The Gittings arms were recorded in Salop, c. 1620.
Shropshire lay on the Welsh border, and border country needed men who could fight. Families held their land in return for service, and service in arms is what a coat of arms was originally for.
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 Gittings 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 Salop.
Origin & History of the Gittings Family in England
The family name Gittings finds its historical roots in the West Midlands of England, particularly within the county of Shropshire, which was historically known as Salop. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Gittings family were well-established in this region. The name is considered a patronymic, meaning it evolved from a variation of the personal name Gittin or Gitting, which likely served as a diminutive form of names like Griffith or Gideon. During the seventeenth century, families in this area were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the wool trade that defined the Shropshire landscape. As the family grew, they became a recognized part of the local community, leaving traces in parish registers and legal documents that track their movement and social standing throughout the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gittin
A diminutive form of the Germanic personal name Gidde or Gitte.
This name
GittingsA patronymic surname meaning son of Gitte, derived from an ancient Germanic personal name.
also spelled
Gittings
Gitting
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
Shropshire Archives, Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry: Parish Registers for the County of Salop, 1620
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
goats headWisdom, and one who wins by policy rather than force
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
