A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fahey family of Ireland.
Reg. 1381 · Irish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
handFaith, sincerity and justice
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a hand couped at the wrist fessways in chief ppr. holding a sword paleways ar. pommel and hilt or, point downwards, pierced through a boar's head erased of”
IrelandO'Conor, c. 1645
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Map of Ireland showing where the Fahey arms are recorded
The Fahey arms were recorded in O'Conor, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Fahey arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Fahey Family in Ireland
The surname Fahey originates from the Gaelic name Ó Fathaigh, which translates to a descendant of the man who was wise or prudent. While the family is most famously associated with County Galway in the west of Ireland, historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established in Dublin by 1645. During this period, the city was a bustling center of trade and political activity, and the presence of the Fahey family there suggests they were likely involved in the urban economy or professional life of the capital. As the seventeenth century progressed, the family navigated the significant social and religious upheavals that defined Irish history, moving between their traditional rural roots and the developing urban landscape of Dublin. Their history reflects the broader experience of Irish families who maintained their cultural identity while adapting to the changing political climate of the time.
Fahey Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Ó Fathaigh
Derived from the Gaelic word fathach meaning a giant or base.
This name
FaheyDescendant of the giant or the one of the foundation.
also spelled
Fahy
Fahey
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
Woulfe, Patrick, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, 1923
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 1654–1656
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
handFaith, sincerity and justice
handFaith, sincerity and justice
