A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Faringdon family of England.
Reg. 2201 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Or, on a fesse gu. betw. ten crosses crosslet fitchée sa. three lions' heads erased or”
EnglandLondon, c. 1308
Where the Faringdon Arms Were Recorded
London
Map of England showing where the Faringdon arms are recorded
The Faringdon arms were recorded in London, c. 1308.
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.
Edward II of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward II of England
1307–1327
Reigning in England when the Faringdon 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 Faringdon Family in England
The surname Faringdon originates from a locative source, meaning it was taken from the name of a specific town or village. The most prominent location is the market town of Faringdon in Berkshire, which was recorded in the Domesday Book as Ferendone. By the early fourteenth century, members of the family had established a significant presence in London. Records show that a prominent citizen named Nicholas de Faringdon served as the Lord Mayor of London multiple times between 1308 and 1323. During this period, the family name became closely linked to the governance of the city, as Nicholas was a wealthy and influential goldsmith. The name eventually evolved from a description of where a person lived into a formal family name that was passed down through generations of London residents.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fearn-dun
Old English for fern and hill or down.
This name
FaringdonRefers to a person who lived on a hill covered in ferns.
also spelled
Farington
Farrington
Related arms
Faringtonvariant spelling
Farringtonvariant spelling
Faryndonvariant spelling
Feringdonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, 1960
London Metropolitan Archives, City of London Letter Books, Series A to E
Stow, John, A Survey of London, 1603
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
