A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gouch family of England.
Reg. 9829 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Per pale ar. and sa. on a chev. betw. three talbots pass. two escallops counterchanged, on a chief engr. gu. a wheel betw. two leopards' faces or”
BerksClewer Park · Berks, c. 1620
Where the Gouch Arms Were Recorded
Berks
Map of England showing where the Gouch arms are recorded
The Gouch arms were recorded in Berks, c. 1620.
Berkshire sat on the road west from London with the royal castle at Windsor in the middle of it. Court families bought estates within reach, and an estate near the court almost always came with a coat of 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 Gouch 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 Berks.
Origin & History of the Gouch Family in England
The surname Gouch has deep roots in the English county of Berkshire, where records confirm that members of the family were well-established by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a locational identifier, reflecting the linguistic shifts common in medieval England as surnames became hereditary. Families bearing this name were often part of the local agrarian or tradesman classes, contributing to the development of small rural communities through farming and local commerce. By the early seventeenth century, the Gouch family was integrated into the social fabric of Berkshire, appearing in parish registers and legal documents that tracked births, marriages, and land holdings. These early records suggest a family that was stable and settled, playing a quiet but consistent role in the history of their home region during a time of significant social change in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Goch
A Welsh adjective meaning red in color.
This name
GouchA descriptive nickname for a person with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
also spelled
Gouche
Gouch
Goche
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Berkshire Record Office, Parish Registers of Berkshire, 1538–1900
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1384–1858
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
lionCourage, strength and royalty
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
lionCourage, strength and royalty
