A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fetherston family of England.
Reg. 1824 · English, D–F
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
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, on a fesse sa. three escallops of the first, with a bordure engr. az”
CumberlandLong Wathby · Cumberland, c. 1620
Where the Fetherston Arms Were Recorded
Cumberland
Map of England showing where the Fetherston arms are recorded
The Fetherston arms were recorded in Cumberland, c. 1620.
Cumberland was rough border country in the north-west, facing Scotland across a disputed line. Its families held land in return for keeping it defended, and men who fought carried shields of their 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Fetherston 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 Cumberland.
Origin & History of the Fetherston Family in England
The Fetherston family name originates from the northern regions of England, specifically within the historic county of Cumberland. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of this family were well-established residents in the area. The name itself is thought to be locative, meaning it was likely derived from a specific place name or a geographical feature near where the first bearers lived. During the seventeenth century, families in this rugged border region often held land and played active roles in local community governance. The Fetherstons were part of a society shaped by the unique challenges of northern life, which included managing rural estates and participating in the local legal and social systems of the time. Their presence in Cumberland during this era reflects a long-standing connection to the landscape and the development of regional identity in northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Feather and Stan
A plume or quill and a stony or rocky area.
This name
FetherstonRefers to a person who lived near a stony area marked by a feather or quill.
also spelled
Featherston
Related arms
Perkinsonsame arms
Parkinsonsimilar arms
Featherstonvariant spelling
Berminghamrecorded with Fetherston, same area
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
Cumberland Archives, Quarter Sessions Records for the County of Cumberland, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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
bordureA difference between branches of one family
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bordureA difference between branches of one family
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
