A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fifield family of England.
Reg. 0152 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Per fesse vert and ar. a pale counterchanged, three acorns or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Fifield Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Fifield arms are recorded
The Fifield 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 Fifield 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 Fifield Family in England
The surname Fifield is a locative name, which means it was originally used to identify people who lived in or came from a specific place. The name is derived from the Old English words "fif," meaning five, and "hide," which was a historical unit of land measurement. Therefore, the name literally describes someone who lived on a farm consisting of five hides of land. By the year 1620, members of the Fifield family were well-established in the city of York, England. During this period, families with this name were often involved in local trade and civic life as the city served as a major hub for commerce in northern England. Over time, the spelling of the name evolved as it was recorded in parish registers and legal documents, eventually settling into the form used by the family today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fif
Old English term for the number five.
This name
FifieldRefers to a person who held or worked a five-hide land holding.
also spelled
Fyfield
Related arms
Higginssimilar arms
Fyfieldvariant spelling
Hollidayrecorded with Fifield, same area
Kingrecorded with Fifield, 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
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
