A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goodson family of England.
Reg. 1857 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Erm. a chev. gu. betw. three quatrefoils or, stalked and leaved vert”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Goodson Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Goodson arms are recorded
The Goodson 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 Goodson 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 Goodson Family in England
The surname Goodson originated as a patronymic name, which means it was created to identify a person as the son of someone named "Good." In medieval England, names like this were common because they helped neighbors distinguish between individuals who shared the same first name. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Goodson family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major northern hub for trade and administration, suggesting that the family likely played a role in the local economy or the civic life of the city. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the development of the region through their work and community involvement. Over the following centuries, the name spread from these northern roots to other parts of England and eventually across the globe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
God
Old English term referring to a deity or supreme being.
This name
GoodsonPatronymic surname meaning son of the good man or son of God.
also spelled
Goodeson
Goodsun
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
The National Archives, State Papers Domestic, James I
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
plant quatrefoilGood fortune and the fourfold gospel
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
plant quatrefoilGood fortune and the fourfold gospel
