A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Feast family of England.
Reg. 6360 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
handFaith, sincerity and justice
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. a dexter hand couped at the wrist and clenched in pale ar”
MiddlesexEdmonton · Middlesex, c. 1620
Where the Feast Arms Were Recorded
Middlesex
Map of England showing where the Feast arms are recorded
The Feast arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1620.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 Feast 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 Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Feast Family in England
The surname Feast is an ancient English name that likely originated as a descriptive nickname for a person with a cheerful or festive personality. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Middlesex, which was a hub of activity surrounding the growing city of London. During this period, members of the Feast family were often involved in the local trades and parish life that defined the region. As the population shifted and expanded during the 1600s, these early settlers helped anchor the name within the social fabric of southeastern England. Their presence in Middlesex suggests that they were part of a stable community that contributed to the local economy and administrative record-keeping of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
festa
Latin term referring to a holiday, celebration, or religious festival.
This name
FeastA nickname for a jovial person who enjoyed festivities or a name for someone born during a holiday.
also spelled
Feste
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Kew, Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills and other probate records, 1384–1858
London Metropolitan Archives, Middlesex parish registers and administrative records, 1538–1900
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handFaith, sincerity and justice
handFaith, sincerity and justice
