A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guyse family of England.
Reg. 9727 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. an ink moline gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Guyse Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Guyse arms are recorded
The Guyse 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 Guyse 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 Guyse Family in England
The surname Guyse is a variant of the name Guise, which traces its roots back to the northern regions of France. During the medieval period, families bearing this name migrated across the English Channel, eventually establishing roots in various parts of England. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the Guyse family were well-established residents of York. At that time, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families like the Guyses often played active roles in the local community as merchants, craftsmen, or landowners. The name itself likely evolved from a place name, serving as a way to identify individuals by their ancestral home or their geographic origins. Over the centuries, the spelling shifted slightly to reflect local dialects and the way the name sounded to those recording it in parish registers and legal documents.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wido
A Germanic name element meaning wood or wide.
This name
GuyseA locational surname derived from the town of Guise in France.
also spelled
Guise
Guyes
Guy
Related arms
Guisevariant spelling
Guyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
