A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guise family of England.
Reg. 2114 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
vairProtection, and the winter fur
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
VairMeans: Protection
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. seven lozenges vair, three, three, and one, on a canton or, a mullet pierced sa”
GloucesterHighnam · Gloucester, c. 1620
Where the Guise Arms Were Recorded
Gloucester
Map of England showing where the Guise arms are recorded
The Guise arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
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 Guise 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 Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Guise Family in England
The family name Guise traces its roots to the historic city of Gloucester, where the family established a significant presence by the early seventeenth century. Records confirm that William Guise served as the Mayor of Gloucester in 1620, marking a period when the family became deeply integrated into the civic and social life of the region. The name itself is thought to have originated as a locative surname, likely derived from the town of Guise in the Picardy region of France. It is believed that early ancestors arrived in England following the Norman Conquest, gradually settling into the English countryside and adopting the local customs of their new home. Over the following generations, the family expanded their influence through land ownership and public service, securing their place as prominent members of the Gloucestershire community long before the expansion of the British Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Guise
Derived from the Old French word for a woodland or forest clearing.
This name
GuiseA topographic name for someone who lived near a wooded area or clearing.
also spelled
Gise
Gyse
Gyes
Guy
Guyse
Related arms
Gisevariant spelling
Guyvariant spelling
Guysevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Atkyns, Robert. The Ancient and Present State of Glocestershire. 1712
Gloucestershire Archives. Records of the Corporation of the City of Gloucester, GBR/B/2/1
Rudder, Samuel. A New History of Gloucestershire. 1779
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
