A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goodin family of England.
Reg. 3436 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, az. on a bend betw. two demi lions ramp. erased or, three lozenges vairé ar. and gu.; 2nd and 3rd, ar. on a bend gu. betw. two demi lions ramp. couped sa. armed and langued of the second, three lozenges vairé ar. and az”
SomersetBower Hinton · Somerset, c. 1620
Where the Goodin Arms Were Recorded
Somerset
Map of England showing where the Goodin arms are recorded
The Goodin arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Goodin 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Goodin Family in England
The surname Goodin has deep roots in the English county of Somerset, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname, derived from the Old English words "god" and "wine," which together translate to "good friend." During the seventeenth century, families in this region were often involved in agriculture or local trade, living in small, tight-knit village communities. As the family grew, members spread from their Somerset origins into neighboring counties, eventually participating in the broader migration patterns that defined life in early modern England. By maintaining a presence in the local parish records of the time, the Goodin family helped document the social and economic shifts occurring in the West Country during the early Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Godwine
Old English compound meaning good friend or god friend.
This name
GoodinA patronymic surname derived from the personal name Godwine, signifying a good or beloved friend.
also spelled
Goodin
Gooding
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
Somerset Archives, Parish Register Transcripts of Somerset, 1600–1650
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lionCourage, strength and royalty
