Map of England showing where the Figgis arms are recorded
The Figgis arms were recorded in Wilts, c. 1620.
Wiltshire was sheep country, and wool made money steadily for hundreds of years. Families who made it bought manors on the downs, and holding a manor was the usual reason to take 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 Figgis 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 Wilts.
Origin & History of the Figgis Family in England
The surname Figgis is an ancient English name that likely originated as a nickname or a descriptive term. Many historians believe it stems from the Middle English word "fig," which was often used to describe someone with a sweet personality or perhaps a person who traded in dried fruits. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Figgis family were well-established in the county of Wiltshire. During this period, families in the region were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the growing wool trade. As the family moved through the seventeenth century, they became part of the fabric of rural English life, leaving behind traces in parish registers and local administrative documents that show their steady presence in the West Country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ficus
Latin term referring to a fig tree or its fruit.
This name
FiggisAn occupational or topographical name for someone who lived near a fig tree.
also spelled
Phiggins
Figgyns
Figgines
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
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Wiltshire Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
