A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Farra family of England.
Reg. 0553 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ar. two bars gu. each charged with three cinquefoils or, a chief indented of the last”
NorfolkNorfolk, c. 1620
Where the Farra Arms Were Recorded
Norfolk
Map of England showing where the Farra arms are recorded
The Farra arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Farra 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Farra Family in England
The family name Farra has deep roots in the English county of Norfolk, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1620. The name is believed to be topographic, meaning it likely described the specific environment where the earliest ancestors lived. In Middle English, the term often related to individuals who resided near a ferry crossing or a specific stretch of land known as a "farrow." During the seventeenth century, families in Norfolk were often tied to the local agricultural economy or the thriving wool trade that defined the region. As these early Farra ancestors navigated the social and economic changes of the 1600s, they became part of the local community fabric, leaving behind traces in parish registers and tax documents that help historians map their movement across the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ferrum
Latin word meaning iron or a tool made of iron.
This name
FarraAn occupational surname for an ironworker, blacksmith, or someone who dealt in iron goods.
also spelled
Farr
Farre
Farrow
Related arms
Farrevariant spelling
Farrowvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Register Transcripts of Norfolk, 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.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cinquefoilHope and joy
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cinquefoilHope and joy
