A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the De Ferrers family of England.
Reg. 7509 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. six horseshoes sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the De Ferrers Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the De Ferrers arms are recorded
The De Ferrers 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 De Ferrers 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 De Ferrers Family in England
The surname De Ferrers traces its roots back to the medieval period in France, specifically to the village of Ferrières in Normandy. The name is occupational in origin, derived from the Latin word for iron, which suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors were likely involved in ironworking or blacksmithing. Following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, members of the family rose to significant prominence within the English aristocracy, eventually establishing strongholds across the country. By the early seventeenth century, the family had expanded its reach into northern England, with documented evidence confirming their presence in York by 1620. This transition from their Norman origins to established residents in a major northern city highlights the family's long-standing movement and integration into different regions of English society over several centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ferrarius
Derived from the Latin word for an iron worker or smith.
This name
De FerrersA locative surname originating from Ferrières in Normandy, referring to a place where iron was mined or worked.
also spelled
Ferrers
Ferrer
Related arms
Ferrervariant spelling
Ferrersvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Loyd, Lewis C., The Origins of Some Anglo-Norman Families, 1951
The National Archives, Pipe Rolls of the Exchequer, 1154–1189
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
