A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fentiman family of England.
Reg. 2389 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
Colours
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)
“Gu. three mascles or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Fentiman Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Fentiman arms are recorded
The Fentiman arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 Fentiman 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 England.
Origin & History of the Fentiman Family in England
The Fentiman family name is deeply rooted in the history of Northern England, with clear evidence of the family residing in the city of York by the year 1620. The name itself is thought to be locational, likely originating from a small settlement or a specific geographical feature in the Yorkshire region. During the seventeenth century, families in this area were often tied to the land or local trades, and the Fentimans were no exception as they established themselves within the social and economic fabric of the city. As the family grew, they became part of the vibrant urban life of York, which was a major hub for commerce and governance at the time. By tracking these early records, we can see how the family name persisted through generations, reflecting the steady growth and movement of families in early modern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fentiman
Derived from the Old English words for marshland and a dweller.
This name
FentimanA person who lived near or worked on the marshy fenlands.
also spelled
Fentimen
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
York City Archives, Parish Registers of St. Crux, York, 1620
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masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
masclePersuasion and the mail of a knight's coat
