A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gunthorpe family of England.
Reg. 3351 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. a bend and border gobony ar. and az. the former charged with two lions' heads erased of the second betw. three leopards' faces or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gunthorpe Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gunthorpe arms are recorded
The Gunthorpe 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 Gunthorpe 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 Gunthorpe Family in England
The surname Gunthorpe originates from a place name in England, specifically referring to a village in Nottinghamshire. The name is rooted in Old Norse, combining the personal name Gunni with the word thorp, which means a small village or a secondary settlement. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a presence in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were living in this historic northern hub during a time of significant social and economic change. As the family moved away from their ancestral village, they carried the name as a reminder of their origins in the Danelaw region, where Norse influence shaped the local landscape and language. Over the generations, the family transitioned from rural roots to urban life, becoming part of the long and complex history of Yorkshire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gunn-thorp
Old Norse elements meaning battle and a village or farmstead.
This name
GunthorpeRefers to a person who lived at the farmstead belonging to a warrior.
also spelled
Guntharp
Gunthrup
Gunthrop
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. and Wilson, R.M. A Dictionary of English Surnames. 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York. Archbishop of York Diocesan Records, Probate Records. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
