A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fag family of England.
Reg. 7321 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
vairProtection, and the winter fur
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. two bends vair”
SussexWiston · Sussex, c. 1620
Where the Fag Arms Were Recorded
Sussex
Map of England showing where the Fag arms are recorded
The Fag arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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 Fag 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 Sussex.
Origin & History of the Fag Family in England
The family name Fag is deeply rooted in the English county of Sussex, where records confirm members of the family were established by the early seventeenth century. Historical documents indicate that the name was likely a topographic or occupational surname, which was common for families living in rural southern England during this period. By 1620, the Fag family was well-integrated into the local community, participating in the agricultural and social life of the Sussex countryside. These early settlers often lived in small parishes where they maintained land and contributed to the local economy. Because the name is relatively rare, it is believed that the family remained closely connected to the Sussex region for several generations, preserving their local identity through parish registers and land deeds.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fagge
Derived from the Old English word for a fold or enclosure.
This name
FagAn occupational or topographic name referring to someone who lived near a sheep fold or enclosure.
also spelled
Fag
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
West Sussex Record Office, Parish Registers of Sussex, 1620
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
