A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goodale family of England.
Reg. 7032 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Gu. an eagle displ. ar. armed or, on a canton of the second a chaplet gramine vert”
SuffolkEarlstonham · Suffolk, c. 1612
Where the Goodale Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Goodale arms are recorded
The Goodale arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1612.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route 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.
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 Goodale 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 Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Goodale Family in England
The surname Goodale is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, where it likely functioned as a descriptive nickname for a person with a kind or pleasant disposition. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Suffolk. Records from 1612 confirm that members of the Goodale family were living in this region, where they were deeply integrated into the local agricultural and social life of the English countryside. During this period, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Goodall or Goodell, reflecting the phonetic nature of record-keeping before modern spelling rules were standardized. These early ancestors were part of a growing class of English families who would eventually play a significant role in the expansion of the British population across the Atlantic, carrying their name and traditions into new territories.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
God-halh
Old English elements meaning good or god and a secluded valley.
This name
GoodaleA topographical name for someone who lived in a pleasant or virtuous valley.
also spelled
Goodale
Goodhall
Goodell
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
Suffolk Archives, Parish Registers of Suffolk, 1612
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
