A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Godby family of England.
Reg. 4736 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
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)
“Sa. a chev. ar. betw. three men's heads ppr”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Godby Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Godby arms are recorded
The Godby 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 Godby 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 Godby Family in England
The family name Godby traces its roots back to the northern English city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. The name is likely derived from the Old Norse words "god" and "by," which together translate to a settlement or farmstead belonging to a person named God. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or landowners who established their home in the Danelaw region, an area of England heavily influenced by Viking settlers. Over the centuries, the name evolved from these early Scandinavian roots to become a distinct surname in the Yorkshire area. By the time the family appeared in seventeenth-century records, they were already well-integrated into the local community, living through a period of significant social and political change in northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Godebeorht
Old Germanic elements meaning good and bright or famous.
This name
GodbyA locational surname derived from a settlement of the followers of Godebeorht.
also spelled
Godbey
Godbie
Godbee
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1997
York Minster Archives, Parish Registers of St. Michael le Belfrey, 1620
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