Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Gu. a saltire or”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Farren family of Ireland.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Gu. a saltire or”
The Farren arms were recorded in France, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
The history of the Farren family in Ireland is deeply connected to the city of Dublin, where records confirm their presence as early as 1645. The name itself is believed to be an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Ó Fearáin, which translates to descendant of the little man. In the seventeenth century, families with this name were often found in the eastern parts of Ireland, particularly within the Pale, which was the area surrounding Dublin under English administrative control. During this period, the Farrens were likely involved in the urban trades and local commerce that defined the growing capital city. As the century progressed, the family became firmly established in the social and economic life of Dublin, navigating the complex political shifts that occurred throughout the 1600s. Their early presence in the city suggests they were part of the settled population that helped shape the development of the Irish capital during a time of significant historical change.
An Irish Gaelic term referring to land, territory, or an estate.
