A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gun family of Ireland.
Reg. 3176 · Irish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
Colours
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)
“Ar. three cannon barrels fesseways ppr”
KerryRattoo · Kerry, c. 1645
Where the Gun Arms Were Recorded
Kerry
Map of Ireland showing where the Gun arms are recorded
The Gun arms were recorded in Kerry, c. 1645.
Kerry was mountain and coast country in the far south-west of Ireland. Its land was poor and held by a few families for a very long time, and long unbroken holding fills a register.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Gun arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Kerry.
Origin & History of the Gun Family in Ireland
The Gun family established a significant presence in County Kerry, Ireland, by 1645. Historical records indicate that the family arrived in the region during a period of major land redistribution and political change. The most prominent early figure was Townshend Gun, who settled in the area and became a landowner. Over the following generations, the family became deeply integrated into the local community and served in various administrative and legal roles within the county. Their influence grew as they managed estates and participated in the social and economic life of Kerry throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This transition from new settlers to established local figures helped define the family’s long-standing connection to the landscape of southwestern Ireland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gunnr
Old Norse term meaning war or battle.
This name
GunDerived from a Norse personal name signifying a warrior or someone involved in combat.
also spelled
Gunne
Gonne
Related arms
Everardrecorded with Gun, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Hickson, Mary Agnes, Selections from Old Kerry Records, 1872
National Archives of Ireland, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Will of Townshend Gun, 1679
Registry of Deeds, Dublin, Memorials of Deeds, Conveyances and Wills, 1708–1750
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cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
