A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fenn family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9513 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la fasce d'azur; à la bord. engr. du même.”
FranceNew-York, c. 1725
Where the Fenn Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Fenn arms are recorded
The Fenn arms were recorded in New-York, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Fenn arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Fenn Family in France
The family name Fenn has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where members of the family were documented as early as 1725. During this period, the name was closely tied to the unique cultural and linguistic landscape of northwestern France. Families in this area often lived in close-knit rural communities that relied on maritime trade and traditional agriculture. Because Bretagne functioned with a high degree of autonomy for many centuries, the people there maintained distinct customs and naming traditions that set them apart from the rest of the French kingdom. By the early 18th century, the Fenn family was part of this stable social fabric, likely working as skilled laborers or landowners who contributed to the local economy of the Breton countryside. Their presence in official records from this time suggests they were established citizens who participated in the parish life and administrative systems of their local towns.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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. on a fesse az. three escallops of the first, a bordure engr. of the second”
NorfolkEast Dereham · Norfolk, c. 1620
Where the Fenn Arms Were Recorded
Norfolk
Map of England showing where the Fenn arms are recorded
The Fenn 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 France when the Fenn 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 Fenn Family in England
The surname Fenn is a topographical name, meaning it was originally used to describe people who lived near a fen, which is a type of low-lying, marshy land. In medieval England, families often took their last names from the specific environment where they built their homes or farmed their fields. By the early 17th century, the name was well-established in the county of Norfolk, a region famous for its vast wetlands and drainage projects. The families living in this area were likely involved in agriculture or trade, adapting to the unique challenges of the damp landscape. As these individuals moved through their communities, the name Fenn became a permanent marker of their connection to the geography of East Anglia. By 1620, the family had deep roots in the region, reflecting a long history of living and working in the distinct terrain of Norfolk.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fenn
Old English word for a marsh, fen, or boggy land.
This name
FennA topographic name for someone who lived near a marsh or wetland area.
also spelled
Fenne
Fenns
Venn
Fen
Related arms
Armstrongrecorded with Fenn, same area
Elvinrecorded with Fenn, same area
Hyderecorded with Fenn, same area
Skarlettrecorded with Fenn, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Series E
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1995
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1905
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
