A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gothard family of England.
Reg. 1424 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
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)
“Gu. an eagle displ. or”
EnglandNewcastle, c. 1620
Where the Gothard Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gothard arms are recorded
The Gothard arms were recorded in Newcastle, 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 Gothard 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 Gothard Family in England
The surname Gothard has deep roots in the English language, originating from the ancient Germanic name Gotthard, which combines the elements for "god" and "hardy" or "brave." By the early 17th century, the family had established a clear presence in the historic city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Gothard family were living and working within this northern hub during a time of significant social and religious change in England. As York was a major center for trade and administration, families like the Gothards were often involved in the local merchant guilds or skilled crafts that kept the city thriving. Over the following generations, the family name became firmly woven into the local history of Yorkshire, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and settlement that defined life in northern England during the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Godhard
Derived from the Germanic elements for god and hardy or brave.
This name
GothardA name signifying a person who is brave, strong, or firm in their devotion to God.
also spelled
Gothart
Goddard
Godard
Related arms
Godardvariant spelling
Goddardvariant spelling
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. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
