A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fairfax family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à trois jumelles de gu.; au”
The Fairfax arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1627.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
Reigning in Britain when the Fairfax arms are first recorded.
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.
The name Fairfax is rooted in Old English, originating from the words "fayr" and "feax," which together describe someone with fair or light-colored hair. While the family name became most famous for its long-standing influence in Yorkshire, its presence in other parts of Britain, such as Kent by 1627, highlights the family’s mobility and integration into local governance during the early modern period. Historically, the Fairfaxes were members of the landed gentry who served as soldiers, lawyers, and administrators for the English Crown. Their rise in status was closely tied to their ability to manage estates and provide loyal service to the monarchy. By the time they were established in southern England, they had already cemented their reputation as a family deeply involved in the political and social shifts of the British Isles.
lionCourage, strength and royaltySir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. three bars gemelles gu. surmounted of a lion ramp. sa”
The Fairfax arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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.
Reigning in Britain when the Fairfax arms are first recorded.
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.
The Fairfax family name finds its deepest roots in the northern English county of Yorkshire, where the family established a prominent presence long before the seventeenth century. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Old English words for fair and hair, likely serving as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor with light-colored locks. By the time the family became well-documented in York during the early 1600s, they had already spent generations building influence as landowners and local leaders. They were deeply connected to the social and political fabric of the region, often serving in roles that required them to manage estates and represent the interests of the North. This long-standing residency in Yorkshire allowed the family to grow in status, eventually positioning them as key figures in English history during the turbulent years of the seventeenth century.
lionCourage, strength and royaltySir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Or, three bars gemelles gu. surmounted of a lion ramp. sa”
The Fairfax arms were recorded in York, c. 1836.
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 Scotland in this period.
Reigning in Britain when the Fairfax arms are first recorded.
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
The history of the Fairfax name is deeply rooted in the northern regions of England, particularly around York, where the family established a strong presence long before the nineteenth century. While the name is famously associated with Yorkshire, its origins are tied to the Old English words for fair and hair, suggesting it was originally a descriptive nickname for a person with light-colored locks. Although the family became a prominent fixture in English society, their influence occasionally brushed against the history of Scotland through border politics and military service. During the medieval period, members of the family were frequently involved in the shifting loyalties of the Anglo-Scottish borderlands, often serving as administrators or soldiers in the volatile northern territories. By the time the family was well-documented in York in 1836, they were already part of a long lineage that had navigated the complex social and political landscapes of both northern England and the Scottish frontier for hundreds of years.
Old English words meaning fair or beautiful and hair.
