A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gorgon family of England.
Reg. 5903 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. three leopards' faces or, jessant-de-lis of the second”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gorgon Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gorgon arms are recorded
The Gorgon 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 Gorgon 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 Gorgon Family in England
The family name Gorgon carries a distinct history that likely traces its roots to the northern regions of England. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in the historic city of York. During this period, York served as a vital center for trade and administration, suggesting that the early Gorgons were likely involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled craft industries that defined the city’s economy. The name itself may have originated as a descriptive nickname or a locational reference, reflecting the common naming customs of the seventeenth century. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the daily life and development of the region long before the industrial changes of later centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gorgon
Derived from the Greek word gorgos meaning terrible or grim.
This name
GorgonAn occupational or descriptive name likely referring to a fierce or intimidating person.
also spelled
Gorgun
Gorgin
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
