A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gorney family of England.
Reg. 7783 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Az. on a bend cotised ar. three leopards' faces gu. crowned or”
EssexEssex, c. 1620
Where the Gorney Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Gorney arms are recorded
The Gorney arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Gorney 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Gorney Family in England
The family name Gorney has deep roots in the English county of Essex, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. The name is believed to have originated as a locational surname, which was a common way for people to identify themselves during the Middle Ages. It likely derived from a specific place name or a topographical feature near where the first bearers of the name resided. As families in the seventeenth century began to settle into more permanent communities, the name became a way to track lineage and property ownership within the local parish. By the time the Gorney family was established in Essex, they were part of a growing class of people who were increasingly documented in local tax rolls and church registers. These early records suggest that the family was well-integrated into the rural life of the region, participating in the agricultural and social structures that defined English village life during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gorn
Derived from the Old French word for a corner or angle.
This name
GorneyA topographic name for someone who lived near a corner of land or a bend in a road.
also spelled
Gornay
Gornie
Related arms
Gourneysimilar arms
Gornayvariant spelling
Dunstonrecorded with Gorney, same area
Luckinrecorded with Gorney, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Essex Record Office, Archdeaconry of Essex Wills and Administrations, 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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
