A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ferres family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Az. an inescutcheon vairé ar. and gu”
The Ferres 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.
Reigning in England when the Ferres arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Ferres has deep roots in the historic city of York, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1620. During this period, York was a bustling center of trade and religion, and families like the Ferres often played active roles in the local community. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older occupational or topographical surnames, potentially linked to the iron trade or those who lived near specific landmarks. As residents of a major northern hub, early members of the family likely witnessed the significant political and social changes that defined seventeenth-century England. By establishing themselves in York, the Ferres family became part of the long and storied history of one of Britain’s most important medieval cities.
Latin word meaning iron or a tool made of iron.
