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All those who today
bear the surname Goldstraw are descended from those bearing the
surname Goostrey and the shield of my arms therefore answers that of
Goostrey (Ancient) namely - Argent a Chevron between three Squirrels
sejant Gules.
To differentiate I have added charges which reflect my occupation as a
scrivener (the quills) and my service as a Justice of the Peace (the
Swords of Justice), the Letters Patent refer to me as "Esquire in the
Commission of the Peace". To add a little wry humour to my arms, Mr.
Woodcock suggested, and I delightedly agreed, that the crest should be
an allusion to (and a pun on) the anciently borne name of Goostrey,
hence the Goose and the Tree.
The blazon for my Scots
arms is exactly as in my English grant with the exception of the motto
which differs in two respects; Firstly and most obviously, it is now
in the expected position over the helm and crest. Secondly, the motto
is recorded as "AB INITIO GOOSTREY" (From the Beginning Goostrey). I
asked the Lord Lyon if he would permit a change from the motto in my
English grant for the following reason: In England the status of the
motto is very informal and it is not even mentioned (although it is
painted on the document) in the legal patent and is therefore not part
of the heritable arms and may be changed at will. This is very
different in Scotland, the motto being part of the legal document
becomes lawfully part of the arms and may not be changed without, or
until, re-matriculation.
My English motto is
very personal to me and is more relevant to my profession. In
consultation with my family and in particular my heir Thomas, it was
felt that as the motto in the Scots matriculation was to be permanent
we would ask for one which more reflected the history and origins of
our line - hence "Ab Initio Goostrey". I am pleased that L.L. allowed
me to vary the English grant to allow for this.
Goldstraw is a local variant of the place name Goostrey near Holmes
Chapel, which is recorded as Gostrel in the 1086 Domesday Book,
Gosetre, Gorstre during the 12th and 13th century, and Goulstry in the
17th century. The place name was originally taken by Ekwall in his
Dictionary of English Place names as meaning the tree belonging to
Godhere, an old Saxon name, but McNeal Dodgson in the Place names of
Cheshire proposes a hypothetical Old English word “gorst-treow” in the
sense of gorse bush or bramble. The local pronunciation of Goldstraw
probably developed along the following lines: Just as the word “cold”
becomes the dialect “cowd”, and with the inclusion of the intrusive
letter “(L)”, the initial part of the name would be easily associated
with the word “gold” and the original form of the name just as soon
forgotten. Interestingly enough, the place name is still pronounced
Goostrey, and hence, is closer to its original form.
Conferral: by S. A. R. Don Carlos de Borbón-Dos Sicilias
y de Borbón-Parma, Duque de Calabria, Conde de Caserta, Infante de
España as a Knight Jure Sanguinis, Motto Proprio, Sacred Military
Constantinian Order of St George. 13th November 2006, Book 4, Folio
55, No. 2993.
"The Scottish
matriculation does not include either mention or illustration of the
cross of the order" |
