Map of England showing where the Fields arms are recorded
The Fields 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 Fields 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 Fields Family in England
The surname Fields is a topographic name, which means it was originally given to people who lived near a specific geographical feature. In this case, the name identified families who resided near an open stretch of land or a cultivated field. By the early 17th century, the name was well-established in England, with records confirming that members of the family were living in the historic city of York by 1620. During this period, surnames were becoming increasingly fixed as families moved from rural villages into larger urban centers like York for trade and work. As these families settled, the name served as a simple way to distinguish them from neighbors based on their proximity to the local landscape. Over time, the spelling evolved from variations like Field or Fielde into the plural form that remains common today.
Fields Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
feld
an open area of cleared land or pasture
This name
Fieldsa topographic name for someone who lived near an open field or pasture
also spelled
Fildes
Fyelds
Phields
Fyldes
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
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
