A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fage family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9911 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à deux lances éclatées de gu., passées en saut., sur lesquelles broche un chev. de sa., acc. en chef de deux palmes de sin.”
AuvergneAuvergne, c. 1663
Where the Fage Arms Were Recorded
Auvergne
Map of France showing where the Fage arms are recorded
The Fage arms were recorded in Auvergne, c. 1663.
Auvergne was mountain country in the middle of France, poor in money but thick with old families. Estates were small and held for a very long time, and long tenure counted for more than wealth when it came to 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Fage arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Auvergne.
Origin & History of the Fage Family in France
The family name Fage has deep roots in the rural landscape of France, particularly within the mountainous region of Auvergne. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established in this area, living as part of the local community. The name itself is derived from the Old Occitan word "faja," which refers to a beech tree. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent grove or forest of beech trees, which was a common way for families to identify their homes before the use of formal street addresses. As the family grew, they became integrated into the social and agricultural fabric of the Auvergne highlands, where they navigated the challenges of life in a rugged, volcanic terrain. Their history reflects the broader patterns of French provincial life, where families were closely tied to the specific geography and natural resources of their ancestral lands.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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. three bends sa. a chief or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Fage Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Fage arms are recorded
The Fage 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 France when the Fage 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 Fage Family in England
The surname Fage has roots that reach deep into the social fabric of medieval England, often appearing in records as a descriptive name or a shortened form of personal names common in the Middle Ages. By the time the family established a notable presence in York during the early 17th century, the name had already been documented in various regions for several generations. In the context of 1620s York, the Fage family lived in a city that served as a vital northern hub for trade and administration. During this era, families with this name were often integrated into the local merchant or craft guilds, which allowed them to participate in the civic life of the city. As the family settled into the urban landscape of York, they became part of the steady growth of the English middle class, contributing to the local economy and the evolving identity of the region during the transition into the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fagus
Latin term referring to the beech tree.
This name
FageA topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent beech tree or forest.
also spelled
Faj
Fagg
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Puy-de-Dôme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lanceKnightly service and the tilt
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
