A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gunby family of England.
Reg. 4100 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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. a lion ramp. az”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gunby Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gunby arms are recorded
The Gunby arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Gunby 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 England.
Origin & History of the Gunby Family in England
The family name Gunby is locative in origin, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place name in England. The name is derived from the Old Norse words "Gunni," which was a personal name, and "by," which meant a farmstead or a village. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived in or near a settlement established by Scandinavian settlers in the Danelaw region of England. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Gunby family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York served as a major center for trade and administration in Northern England, and families living there were often involved in the city's merchant guilds or local government. The presence of the family in such a prominent city suggests that they were active participants in the social and economic life of the region during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gunni-byr
Old Norse for Gunni's farmstead or village settlement.
This name
GunbyDerived from a place name in Lincolnshire referring to a settlement established by a person named Gunni.
also spelled
Gunbie
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. Archbishop of York Diocesan Records
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
