A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fairwell family of England.
Reg. 8757 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. a chev. engr. betw. three escallops ar”
SomersetHill Bishop · Somerset, c. 1620
Where the Fairwell Arms Were Recorded
Somerset
Map of England showing where the Fairwell arms are recorded
The Fairwell arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 England when the Fairwell 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Fairwell Family in England
The family name Fairwell finds its roots in the rural landscapes of Somerset, England, where members of the family were documented as early as 1620. During the seventeenth century, the name likely functioned as a topographic or descriptive surname, often given to individuals who lived near a specific landmark or who were known for a particular personal quality. In the context of the West Country, families like the Fairwells were typically part of the agrarian society that defined the region, working the land or participating in the local trade networks of the era. As the seventeenth century progressed, the family remained embedded in the local parish structures of Somerset, which served as the primary record keepers for births, marriages, and deaths. These early generations lived through a period of significant social change in England, yet they maintained a consistent presence in the county, contributing to the local community long before the name spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fær-wel
Old English words meaning a journey or travel and good.
This name
FairwellA topographical name for someone who lived near a pleasant or successful journey path.
also spelled
Farwell
Fairwell
Fayrewell
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Somerset Heritage Centre, Parish Registers for the Diocese of Bath and Wells, 1620
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
