George Gwynne Bird (1803-1863)

Blazon Shield: Argent, between the arms of a cross patonce four martlets Gules, in dexter chief a canton Azure.

Dr. George Gwynne Bird (1803-1863) was a well-respected doctor in Swansea, a surgeon and physician at the Swansea Infirmary, who served as mayor of the town in 1842-43 and was also a justice of the peace.

He was born in Breconshire, where his father, also called George Gwynne Bird, was also a doctor. Dr. Bird Sr. was born into the Bird family of Drybridge House, St.Martin's, Hereford. The family claimed descent from the Birds of Chester.

Dr Bird Jr.'s own son, born in 1844, also bore the same name, and also became a doctor, practising in London, where he died in 1910.

The Birds of Hereford used the same arms as their reputed Chester ancestors but with the addition of a gold mullet (star) on the blue canton. Some sources say they also added a crescent for difference, indicating descent from a second son. These are an example of canting arms, where charges on the shield reflect the person's name.

The chain of office of the mayor (now lord mayor) of Swansea was commissioned in 1876 and contains arms of the mayors from 1835 (when the office was created) to 1875. However, for George Gwynne Bird it omits the gold mullet which distinguishes the Hereford family from their Chester ancestors.