A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Godsell family of England.
Reg. 8847 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 cross botonnée or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Godsell Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Godsell arms are recorded
The Godsell 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 Godsell 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 Godsell Family in England
The family name Godsell is rooted in the linguistic traditions of medieval England, likely originating as a descriptive surname derived from Old English terms related to a person’s character or religious devotion. By the early seventeenth century, the name was firmly established in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Godsell family were living in this region by 1620, a time when York served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration. Families in this area often played active roles in the local guilds or parish life, which allowed them to integrate into the social fabric of the city. As these early ancestors navigated the challenges of the Stuart era, they helped cement the name as a recognized part of the local community. Over the following decades, the family continued to be associated with the northern counties, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and settlement that defined English family history during that period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Godsall
Derived from the Old English personal name Godeshalh meaning God's nook.
This name
GodsellA locational surname referring to someone who lived in a secluded valley or corner of land belonging to God.
also spelled
Godsal
Godsall
Godsalve
Related arms
Godsalvariant spelling
Godsallvariant spelling
Godsalvevariant spelling
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
