A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goldfinch family of England.
Reg. 4231 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Paly of six ar. and az. on a chief or, a lion pass. guard. sa”
KentKent, c. 1620
Where the Goldfinch Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Goldfinch arms are recorded
The Goldfinch arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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.
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 Goldfinch 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Goldfinch Family in England
The surname Goldfinch is an English locative and descriptive name that likely originated as a nickname for someone with a cheerful personality or perhaps a person who wore brightly colored clothing. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a firm presence in the county of Kent, a region known for its rich agricultural history and proximity to the English Channel. Records confirm that members of the Goldfinch family were living in Kent by 1620, where they were deeply integrated into the local community as farmers and tradespeople. During this era, the family navigated the social and economic shifts of the Stuart period, often appearing in parish registers that documented their baptisms, marriages, and burials. These early ancestors helped shape the local landscape of Kent, leaving behind a legacy that reflects the quiet endurance of rural English families during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gold-finc
A yellow-colored bird with a distinctive bright patch on its wings.
This name
GoldfinchA nickname for a person with a cheerful disposition or bright, colorful clothing.
also spelled
Goldfynch
Goldfynche
Related arms
Goldsmithsame arms
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
Kent Archives, Canterbury Cathedral Archives: Parish Registers of Kent, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
