The diary of a Heraldry Addict
Gateford isn't at first an obvious pun.
Gateford
Arms: Sable, a bend between six goats climant Argent (Visitations)
Gateford: Derived from Old English gāt (goat) + ford (ford). The goat reference is present, there are six of them, and it is quite possible that the bend represents a ford, so there we have it.
Frere or Fryer of Charlton.
(Same arms as Frere of Essex)
Arms: Sable, a chevron between 3 dolphins naiant Argent quartered with Argent a chevron between three escallop shells Sable differenced by a crescent on the chevron.
The Shropshire MS makes no mention of a crest but as it states that the arms are the same as those of Frere of Essex so, for this illustration, I have "borrowed" the Frere of Essex crest.
Crest: (from the arms of Fryer Co. Essex) Out of a ducal coronet Or an antelope's head Argent attired, crined, and tufted Gold.
In heraldry, dolphins and scallop shells carry profound religious, particularly Christian, significance, often representing salvation, pilgrimage, and the soul's journey. Early Christians used the dolphin as a symbol of Jesus Christ, often viewing them as friendly creatures ("sailor's friend") that guide souls to the "safe shores" of heaven, similar to how they were believed to lead sailors to safety.
The crest may or may not have any religious significance however in many cultures, it is often regarded as a symbol of grace, speed, spiritual guidance, and divine protection.
The surname Frere (and variant Frère) has French and English origins, deriving primarily from the Old French frere (meaning "brother" or "friar"). It emerged as a medieval nickname for a brother, a pious person, a member of a religious order, or as an occupational name for someone working at a friary.
Fox
Arms: Argent, a chevron between three foxes' heads erased 2 and 1 Gules
Crest: A fox passant Gules.
Visitations and a monument in Bromfield Church.
Fox: English (Nickname): Originally a nickname for a person who was considered crafty, sly, or cunning, or a person with red hair. It is frequently recorded in early English records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273 AD.
There are seven families recorded in the Shropshire MS with the surname Fowler, the first two listed have three lions passant guardant but have no mention of a crest which may have been some sort of a bird. The next, that of Fowler of Harnage Grange, is a quartered coat with the first quarter repeating the three lions but has some reference to a pun in the crest; A cubit arm habited Azure holding in the hand Proper a lure Vert feathered Argent lined Or twisted around the arm. With another crest listed elsewhere as An owl ducally collared Or.
That of Fowler, Temp Henry VIII is given as simply An owl Argent ducally gorged Or but this must surely be a crest.
The next two are recorded with lions or leopards' heads but I have taken as my example to illustrate, the arms of John Fowler of Brooke which is simply blazoned as "three birds". The blazon, not being specific, would allow us to choose any kind of bird and indeed, any kind of bird would fit the pun since the surname Fowler is an English and Scots occupational name for a bird-catcher, trapper, or keeper of wild birds, originating from the Old English word fugelere (derived from fugol, meaning "bird" or "fowl"). It commonly appeared in the 13th century in England to describe those who hunted birds for food or sport. I can see no reason why a simple blazon of "three birds", which does not seem to tie us to any particular bird, should not be interpreted, especially when dealing with the surname "Fowler", as three fowl.
Fowler, John, of Brooke
Arms: Azure, on a chevron Argent between three birds Or as many crosses formée Sable.
Crest: An owl Argent ducally gorged Or.
Visitations 1623 (Lord Lilford's Copy Visitations 1584)
Forester and Forster
There are 13 entries in the Shropshire MS for the surname Forester and Forster, all of which feature a bugle horn stringed alluding to the stewardship of the forest. The bugle horn has historically served as a powerful symbol of forest stewardship, particularly in medieval England, where it was used as an instrument of conveyance to grant bailiwick (the office of a forest keeper or ranger). The horn was not merely a musical instrument but a badge of office, signifying the keeper's duty to manage hunting and preserve the forest's resources.
For the sake of simplicity I have chosen to ignore the well known arms of Cesil-Weld Forester, Baron Forester, and instead illustrated the arms of Forster of Watling Street & Sutton Madoc.
Arms: Quarterly per fess indented Argent and Sable in dexter chief and sinister base quarters a bugle horn Sable garnished & stringed Or (Edmonson and Visitations).
Crest: A talbot passant Argent collared Gules ringed, pinned and lined & nowed Or. (Visitations)
The surname Forrester is of Anglo-Norman origin, arising as an occupational name for a forest officer, woodman, or keeper of a lord’s hunting ground. Derived from the Old French forestier, it was used in medieval England and Scotland from the 12th century, with strong historical ties to land stewardship and nobility.
The Forster surname is primarily a North English and German occupational name meaning "forester," designating someone who managed, guarded, or lived in a woodland, often for royalty.
Forde, Ralph de, Bailiff of Shrewsbury, 1391.
Arms: Or, 2 bars wavy Azure.
I would hope that the pun in this example needs no explanation.
Derived from Old English ford, referring to a shallow river crossing, denoting a person who lived near such a location.
Ferrers of Richard's Castle
Arms: Argent, six horse shoes, 3,2 & 1 Sable nails Or.
The Ferrers surname is an ancient Anglo-Norman, locational name derived from Ferrières-Saint-Hilaire in Normandy, France, signifying "iron works" (Latin ferraria). Brought to England in 1066 by Henry de Ferrers, the family became a powerful noble house holding the Earldom of Derby for six generations.
Fawkoner
Thomas Fawkoner, Bailiff of Shrewsbury, 1614.
Arms: Sable, three falcons rising Argent armed Or.
Dovey, Humphrey, Of Nordley, Obit, 1700.
Arms: Azure, a fess between three doves, wings expanded, Argent [Dovey], impaling Azure, a sun in splendour Or [as yet not identified].
(Monument in Alveley Church)
I don't think I need to explain how this one is a pun.
Delves, John, Sheriff, 1349.
Arms: Argent, a chevron Gules fretty Or between three delves (sods of turf) Sable.
These arms have featured before in the section on Cheshire heraldic puns.
In what might be considered a slightly less obvious group might be placed those coats in which charges whose names are the whole names of the bearers are combined with other charges. Delves, so pleased to add the chevron of the Audley colours between the three black delves in his silver shield, could be included in this type of pun; here we see both the play on his name and his proclamation of his kinship with that Staffordshire squire whom James Audley delighted to honour for his valorous work at Poitiers.
Cressett
Another occupational pun, this time it is the crest which alludes to the surname.
Cressett of Upton Cressett & Cound.
Arms: Azure, a cross within a bordure both engrailed Or.
Crest: A demi-lion rampant guardant Argent ducally crowned Or holding a beacon Argent fire Proper.
(Visitations and a monument at Cound and at Corely.)
The arms of Cressett of Upton Cressett & Cound.
The surname Cressett is primarily an English occupational or topographic name originating from the Old French word cresset, referring to a metal beacon or lantern used for light. It likely denoted a maker or user of these lamps, though some sources link it to a habitation near a "peak of a hill" (creste).
The place name Upton Cressett in Shropshire is a combination of an Anglo-Saxon locational name ("Upton") and a Norman family name ("Cressett").
19 years ago I made a post about the Leigh Baronets. Although I am merely a clip art digital manipulator and not an artist, and never claimed to be, I have improved a bit over the last 19 years or so.
On the left is the image I posted on the 1st June 2007 and on the right the one I made today. Thank goodness for PhotoShop.
Corser, another occupational pun.
Corser of Whitchurch
Arms: Argent, on a chevron Sable three horses' heads couped of the field
Crest: A Pegasus courent wings expanded*
(Book, print and seal in the possession of George Morris, of Shrewsbury, owner of the MS The Armorial Bearings of Shropshire Families)
* No tincture is given for the Pegasus but we must assume that it is "Proper" as in Greek mythology, the proper and most traditional colouring for Pegasus is a pure white stallion. As a divine creature associated with the heavens, Zeus, and the goddess Eos (dawn), he is typically depicted as a majestic white horse with large, feathered wings.
The surname Corser is of medieval English and Scottish origin, primarily acting as an occupational name for a horse dealer, broker, or dealer in horses. It derives from the Middle English term "corser" (1200–1500), which itself stems from the Old French corsier or coursier, meaning a steed or runner.
Corbet of Wattlesborough (Visitations 1623)
Arms: Or, A raven Proper.
The surname Corbet (and its common variant Corbett) is of Anglo-Norman French origin, derived from the Old French word corbet, a diminutive of corb (meaning "raven" or "crow"). It generally functioned as a nickname for someone with dark hair, a dark complexion, or perhaps a sharp nose resembling a raven.
Conisbie, alias Coningsby, of Nene Solers (Co. Salop) and Morton Bagott (Co. Warwick)
Arms: Gules, three conies sejant two and one Argent.
Crest: A coney sejant Argent,
(Visitations 1623 and Edmonson)
This one is quite obvious as a cony (or coney) is the traditional heraldic term for a rabbit, frequently used in British heraldry. Representing fertility and a gentle nature, it often appears in canting arms (puns on surnames) and is commonly depicted as brown, sitting (sejant), or running (courant). Here, it is Argent.
The arms of Conisbie, alias Coningsby, of Nene Solers (Co. Salop) and Morton Bagott (Co. Warwick)
Gateford isn't at first an obvious pun. Gateford Arms: Sable, a bend between six goats climant Argent (Visitations) The arms of Gatefor...
