A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fien family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0689 · Britain, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 lions d'or. C.: un loup assis d'arg., coll. d'un collier à picotons d'or, enchaîné du même. S.: deux loups, pareils à celui du cimier.”
Britainc. 1446
Where the Fien Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Fien arms are recorded
The Fien arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1446.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
Henry VI of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VI of England
1422–1461
Reigning in Britain when the Fien arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Fien Family in Britain
The family name Fien has roots in England that stretch back to the middle of the fifteenth century. Historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the county of Kent by 1446. During this period, Kent was a vital region for trade and agriculture, placing the family in a central hub of medieval English life. The name likely evolved from local dialects or occupational descriptions common to the southeastern part of the country. As the family settled into their community, they became part of the social fabric of Kent, contributing to the local economy and the development of the region. By tracing their presence to this specific time and place, we gain a clearer understanding of how the family name took hold and persisted through the generations in Britain.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au lion de gu., arm. et lamp. de sa.; à la cotice d'azur, br. sur le tout.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Fien Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Fien arms are recorded
The Fien arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Britain when the Fien 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Fien Family in France
The surname Fien finds its historical roots in the sun-drenched region of Languedoc, where records confirm the family was well-established by 1663. During this period, the area was a hub of agricultural activity and religious transition, deeply influenced by the cultural traditions of southern France. Families like the Fien line often lived in close-knit rural communities, where their name likely evolved from local dialects or specific geographic landmarks common to the Occitan-speaking population. As residents of Languedoc, these early family members were part of a society defined by its distinct legal customs and its proximity to the Mediterranean trade routes. By maintaining a presence in this region during the seventeenth century, the Fien family participated in the complex social fabric of a province that was gradually becoming more integrated into the centralized French state under the reign of Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fien
Derived from the Old French word fin meaning fine or delicate.
This name
FienA topographic or descriptive surname referring to a person of refined character.
also spelled
Fienne
Fien
Feenz
Fynnes
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kent Archives, Calendar of the Kent Feet of Fines, 1446
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
