A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ferrier family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 2293 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois fers-à-cheval d'arg.”
ForezForez, c. 1663
Where the Ferrier Arms Were Recorded
Forez
Map of France showing where the Ferrier arms are recorded
The Ferrier arms were recorded in Forez, c. 1663.
Forez was a small upland county in central France, thick with minor gentry holding modest estates. Its families were more numerous than wealthy, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's own.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Ferrier 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 Forez.
Origin & History of the Ferrier Family in France
The surname Ferrier is a classic occupational name that originated in medieval France, derived from the Old French word *ferrier*, which translates to a blacksmith or an ironworker. Because iron was essential for farming tools, weapons, and horseshoes, blacksmiths held a vital role in every village and town. By the time the family was firmly established in the Forez region in 1663, the name had already been in use for centuries across various French provinces. Families with this name often lived near local forges or trade routes where metalwork was in high demand. Over time, the name became a permanent marker of a family line that contributed to the industrial and agricultural development of their local communities. As the family settled in Forez, they became part of the long-standing tradition of skilled tradespeople who helped shape the rural economy of central France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, three horseshoes sa”
RenfrewKirkland · Renfrew, c. 1748
Where the Ferrier Arms Were Recorded
Renfrew
Map of Scotland showing where the Ferrier arms are recorded
The Ferrier arms were recorded in Renfrew, c. 1748.
Renfrewshire lay along the lower Clyde, farming country that later filled with trade. Its landed families were long-settled, and long settlement is what brought them into the register.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in France when the Ferrier arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Renfrew.
Origin & History of the Ferrier Family in Scotland
The surname Ferrier is an occupational name that originated from the Old French word *ferrier*, which referred to a worker in iron or a blacksmith. In Scotland, the name became established as families moved into skilled trades and local governance. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Ferrier family had firmly planted roots in the town of Renfrew. Records confirm their presence in this area by 1748, a time when Renfrew was a growing center for trade and river commerce along the Clyde. As blacksmiths and metalworkers were essential to the agricultural and industrial development of the Scottish Lowlands, families with this name often held respected positions within their local communities. Over time, the Ferrier name became synonymous with the industrious spirit of the region as these families contributed to the local economy and the social fabric of Renfrewshire.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 bend sa. three horseshoes of the first”
EnglandBoughton, c. 1620
Where the Ferrier Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Ferrier arms are recorded
The Ferrier arms were recorded in Boughton, 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 France when the Ferrier 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 Ferrier Family in England
The surname Ferrier is an occupational name that originated from the Old French word *ferrier*, which referred to a person who worked with iron, such as a blacksmith or a farrier who shod horses. While the name has deep roots in continental Europe, it became established in England as trade and travel increased across the channel. By the early 17th century, the family had firmly planted roots in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Ferrier family were living and working in this northern hub by 1620. During this period, York was a vital center for commerce and craftsmanship, making it a logical home for a family whose name was tied to the essential metalworking trades of the era. As these individuals settled into English life, they contributed to the local economy and helped shape the social fabric of the city during the transition into the Stuart period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ferrum
Latin word meaning iron or metal.
This name
FerrierAn occupational surname for a blacksmith or a worker in iron.
also spelled
Feryer
Ferier
Ferryer
Feryar
Feriar
Related arms
de Feriervariant spelling
Ballrecorded with Ferrier, same area
Butlerrecorded with Ferrier, same area
Isaacrecorded with Ferrier, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales de la Loire, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la province de Forez, 1663
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horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
