A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gouge family of Wales.
Reg. 4145 · Welsh, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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. three boars pass. ar”
Walesc. 1647
Where the Gouge Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Gouge arms are recorded
The Gouge arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to 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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Wales when the Gouge arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Wales.
Origin & History of the Gouge Family in Wales
The surname Gouge is an ancient occupational name that likely originated in England to describe a person who worked as a gouger or a woodworker. By the middle of the seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the town of Denbigh in North Wales. Records from 1647 confirm that members of the Gouge family were active participants in the local community during this period of significant political and social change in Britain. These early ancestors were likely involved in the local trades or agricultural life that defined the Denbigh area. Over time, the family name became firmly rooted in the region, reflecting the migration patterns and professional lives of families living in Welsh market towns during the mid-1600s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Goch
A Welsh adjective meaning red in color.
This name
GougeAn Anglicized form of a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
also spelled
Gowge
Gowgge
Related arms
Googevariant 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
National Library of Wales, Denbigh Borough Records, 1647
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boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
