Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. a cross fusily betw. four eagles displ. sa”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gogh family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. a cross fusily betw. four eagles displ. sa”
The Gogh arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat of 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.
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.
The history of the Gogh family in England begins with their presence in the county of Devon by the year 1620. During this period, the name was often associated with families living in the rural landscapes of the West Country. While the name is frequently linked to Dutch origins, its early appearance in English parish registers suggests that members of the family had established themselves as part of the local community long before the name became famous elsewhere. These early settlers likely worked in agriculture or local trades, blending into the social fabric of Devonshire villages. By settling in this region, the family became part of the long history of migration and regional development that defined England in the early seventeenth century. Their presence in these records provides a clear window into how the family name took root in English soil during a time of great social change.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Per pale az. and sa. three fleurs-de-lis or”
The Gogh arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat of 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.
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.
The family name Gogh has deep roots in the Welsh landscape, reflecting the linguistic traditions of the region. The name is derived from the Welsh word *coch*, which translates to red. In the Welsh language, initial consonants often change based on the surrounding words, a process known as mutation. Over time, the spelling shifted to Gogh to reflect how the name sounded to speakers of other languages. By 1647, records confirm that members of the family were established in the town of Denbigh. This area was a significant hub for trade and administration in North Wales during the seventeenth century. Living in a town like Denbigh suggests that these early family members were likely involved in the local economy or civic life of the period. Their presence in the historical record provides a clear link to the social fabric of early modern Wales.
Derived from the Dutch word for a region or district.

