A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fairclough family of England.
Reg. 9722 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, a lion ramp. sa. betw. two (sometimes, three) fleurs-de-lis az”
LancasterLancaster, c. 1583
Where the Fairclough Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Fairclough arms are recorded
The Fairclough arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1583.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the 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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Fairclough 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Fairclough Family in England
The surname Fairclough is a habitational name that originated in the historic county of Lancashire in North West England. It is derived from the Old English words "fæger," meaning fair or beautiful, and "cloh," which refers to a ravine or a steep-sided valley. This suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors likely lived near a scenic or prominent valley in the local landscape. By the late sixteenth century, the family had established a firm presence in the region, with records confirming their residence in Lancaster by 1583. Over the following generations, the name became deeply rooted in the social and agricultural life of the area, reflecting the long-standing connection between the family and the geography of the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fager Clough
Old English for beautiful or fair and a ravine or valley.
This name
FaircloughRefers to someone who lived near a beautiful ravine or a valley with pleasant scenery.
also spelled
Fairclow
Fairclowe
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
