A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fellowes family of England.
Reg. 9028 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
ErmineMeans: Dignity
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)
“Az. a fesse dancettée erm. betw. three lions' heads erased or, murally crowned ar”
HuntingdonRamsey Abbey · Huntingdon, c. 1620
Where the Fellowes Arms Were Recorded
Huntingdon
Map of England showing where the Fellowes arms are recorded
The Fellowes arms were recorded in Huntingdon, c. 1620.
Huntingdonshire was small, flat fen-edge country. Drainage made new farmland and new fortunes, and families who gained by it bought manors and took arms to match.
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 Fellowes 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 Huntingdon.
Origin & History of the Fellowes Family in England
The surname Fellowes originated in England as a descriptive term used to identify a companion or a partner. During the Middle Ages, the word was often applied to someone who held a shared interest in land or trade with another person. By the early seventeenth century, the name had become firmly established among families in the county of Huntingdon. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Fellowes family were active in this region, where they were likely involved in local agriculture or the burgeoning market town economy. As the family grew, they integrated into the social fabric of the area, transitioning from a simple descriptor of social status into a permanent hereditary surname that was passed down through generations. This evolution reflects a common pattern in English history where nicknames based on personal relationships eventually became fixed family identifiers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fela
Old English word meaning a partner, associate, or companion.
This name
FellowesA surname denoting someone who was a companion, partner, or fellow member of a group.
also spelled
Fellows
Fallowes
Related arms
Fallowesvariant spelling
Jaffreyrecorded with Fellowes, same area
Joynerrecorded with Fellowes, same area
Knightrecorded with Fellowes, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
