A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Figge family of England.
Reg. 0359 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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pine treeSteadfastness through every season
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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. three chev. betw. as many pine slips vert”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Figge Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Figge arms are recorded
The Figge 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 Figge 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 Figge Family in England
The surname Figge has deep roots in Northern England, with historical records confirming that members of the family were established in the city of York by 1620. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older Germanic or Old English terms related to the word fig, which may have originally served as a descriptive nickname for a person or perhaps a reference to a specific location where the family lived. During the early seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, and families like the Figges were often involved in the local merchant guilds or skilled crafts that defined the city’s economy. By settling in such a prominent urban hub, these early ancestors likely played a role in the social and civic life of the region during a time of significant transition in English history. Over the decades, the family name became a permanent part of the local landscape, reflecting the movement and growth of common citizens who helped shape the identity of the North.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fic
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for a fight.
This name
FiggeA nickname for a person who was considered to be a fighter or warrior.
also spelled
Phig
Fyge
Figge
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Kew, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384–1858
Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, York Diocesan Probate Records
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
pine treeSteadfastness through every season
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
pine treeSteadfastness through every season
