A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goure family of England.
Reg. 4368 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a chev. betw. three wolves' heads erased or, (another, griffins' heads)”
OxfordAylworthes House · Oxford, c. 1574
Where the Goure Arms Were Recorded
Oxford
Map of England showing where the Goure arms are recorded
The Goure arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1574.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route 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 England in this period.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Goure 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Goure Family in England
The Goure family name has roots that stretch back to the late sixteenth century in the historic city of Oxford. Records confirm that members of the family were living in this academic hub as early as 1574, a time when the city was a bustling center for trade and university life. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a locational marker, which was a common way for people to identify one another in medieval and early modern England. Because Oxford was a place where scholars, merchants, and craftsmen gathered from across the country, the Goure family would have been part of a vibrant and changing community. By establishing themselves in such a prominent location during the Elizabethan era, the early members of this family were part of the foundational history of a city that has served as a center of learning for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gore
A triangular piece of land or a muddy area.
This name
GoureDerived from a topographic location describing someone who lived near a triangular plot of land.
also spelled
Gower
Gowre
Related arms
Gowervariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Oxford City Council, Oxford City Council Records: Records of the City of Oxford, 1509–1783, 1912
Salter, H. E., Surveys and Tokens of Medieval Oxford, 1923
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
