A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goater family of England.
Reg. 8523 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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, a fesse engr. betw. three crosses crosslet fitchée gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Goater Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Goater arms are recorded
The Goater 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 Goater 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 Goater Family in England
The surname Goater is an occupational name that likely emerged in medieval England to describe someone who worked with goats. During this period, many families adopted names based on their daily trade, and a "goater" would have been a person responsible for herding or tending to these animals. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Goater family were established in the historic city of York. At that time, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families living there were often involved in local commerce or skilled crafts. The presence of the name in such an influential northern city suggests that the family had integrated into the urban economy of the seventeenth century. Over time, the name evolved from a simple description of a job into a permanent family identifier that was passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gota
Old English term for a goat or a goatherd.
This name
GoaterAn occupational surname for someone who tended or herded goats.
also spelled
Goter
Gottar
Gotor
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
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Parish registers of York, 1620
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
