A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Falconer family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 4805 · Britain, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un faucon d'arg. dans l'attitude de l'aigle héraldique, cour. d'or, ch. sur son estomac d'un coeur de gu.; ledit faucon acc. de trois étoiles d'arg. C.: un ange agenouillé, de profil, posé au centre d'une couronne de laurier de sin. S.: deux faucons au nat. D.: VIVE UT VIVAS.”
Britainc. 1700
Where the Falconer Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Falconer arms are recorded
The Falconer arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
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.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Falconer arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Falconer Family in Britain
The surname Falconer is an occupational name that emerged in Britain during the Middle Ages to identify people who trained hawks and falcons for hunting. Because falconry was a highly skilled and prestigious activity often associated with the nobility and the landed gentry, those who performed these duties held a respected position within the feudal system. By the time the family established a clear presence in Kent around 1700, the name had long transitioned from a job title into a hereditary surname passed down through generations. Families with this name were often found in rural areas where the open landscape was well suited for the sport of hawking. Over the centuries, the name spread across various English counties, reflecting the movement of skilled workers who followed the royal courts or wealthy estates that required their specialized services.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Gu. three hawks' lures or; afterwards, Or, a falcon's head ppr. issuing out of a man's heart gu. betw. three mullets az.; since the beginning of the 17th century, Az. a falcon displ. betw. three mullets ar. on his breast a man's heart gu”
KincardineHalkerton · Kincardine, c. 1647
Where the Falconer Arms Were Recorded
Kincardine
Map of Scotland showing where the Falconer arms are recorded
The Falconer arms were recorded in Kincardine, c. 1647.
Kincardineshire was a narrow strip of farmland between the hills and the North Sea. Its landed families were few but very long-settled, and long settlement brought 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.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Britain when the Falconer arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
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.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Kincardine.
Origin & History of the Falconer Family in Scotland
The surname Falconer originated as an occupational name for those who trained and cared for hunting birds, which were highly valued status symbols in medieval society. By the time the family established a notable presence in Kincardine in 1647, they had already integrated into the social and administrative fabric of Scotland. During this era, the region of Kincardineshire was a hub for landowning families who served local roles in law and governance. The name reflects a time when a person’s trade often defined their identity within a community. As the family settled into their Scottish roots, they became part of the broader history of the Mearns area, where they participated in the agricultural and civic life that shaped the nation during the seventeenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Paly of six ar. and sa. on a bend vert three trefoils slipped or”
EnglandLondon, c. 1414
Where the Falconer Arms Were Recorded
London
Map of England showing where the Falconer arms are recorded
The Falconer arms were recorded in London, c. 1414.
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.
Henry V of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry V of England
1413–1422
Reigning in Britain when the Falconer 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 England.
Origin & History of the Falconer Family in England
The surname Falconer originated as an occupational name for someone who trained and handled hawks for hunting. During the medieval period, falconry was a prestigious sport reserved for the nobility and the wealthy elite. Because these birds were highly valuable and required specialized care, the people responsible for them held respected positions within royal or aristocratic households. By the year 1414, records confirm that members of the Falconer family were well-established in London. This suggests that the family had successfully integrated into the urban professional class of the capital city. Over time, the name transitioned from a description of a person’s daily work into a permanent hereditary surname passed down through generations. This shift reflects the broader trend in English history where professional titles became the primary way to identify families within a growing society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
falco
A Latin term referring to a falcon or hawk.
This name
FalconerAn occupational surname for a person who trained or kept falcons for hunting.
also spelled
Falckoner
Falkoner
Faulkner
Falkner
Fauconer
Related arms
Fawknersame arms
Faulconersimilar arms
Falknervariant spelling
Fauconervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
The National Archives, Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11
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falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
