A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fahy family of Ireland.
Reg. 2711 · Irish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
handFaith, sincerity and justice
swordJustice, and military honour
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a hand couped in chief, sticking a sword ppr. into a boar's head erased in base or”
IrelandSmith's Ordinary, c. 1645
Where the Fahy Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Fahy arms are recorded
The Fahy arms were recorded in Smith's Ordinary, 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 Fahy 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 Fahy Family in Ireland
The surname Fahy originates from the Irish 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 their presence in Dublin as early as 1645. During this period, the family was navigating the complex social and political shifts of seventeenth-century Ireland, a time when many families moved toward urban centers like Dublin for trade or legal reasons. The name reflects a long tradition of Gaelic heritage, surviving through centuries of cultural change while maintaining its roots in the linguistic history of the Irish people. By the mid-1600s, individuals bearing the name were already established enough to appear in official administrative documents, marking them as part of the evolving fabric of Irish society during a volatile era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ó Fathaigh
Derived from the Gaelic word fathach meaning giant or man of stature.
This name
FahyRefers to a descendant of the person known as the giant or man of great stature.
also spelled
Fahie
Fay
Faye
Related arms
Fahievariant spelling
Fayvariant spelling
Carberyrecorded with Fahy, same area
Dowdallrecorded with Fahy, same area
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
swordJustice, and military honour
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
handFaith, sincerity and justice
swordJustice, and military honour
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
