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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. The Armiger is
a Knight Jure Sanguinis, Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St
George. Grant: 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" |
