A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fingal family of Ireland.
Reg. 8495 · Irish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Erm. a lion pass. guard. or, on a chief az. a crescent betw. two roses of the second”
Irelandc. 1645
Where the Fingal Arms Were Recorded
Dublin
Map of Ireland showing where the Fingal arms are recorded
The Fingal arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Fingal arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Fingal Family in Ireland
The name Fingal is deeply rooted in the history of North County Dublin, a region historically known as the "Fingal" area. The name itself comes from the Old Norse term *Finngall*, which translates to "fair foreigner" or "fair stranger." This term was originally used by the native Irish to describe the Viking settlers who arrived on the eastern coast of Ireland during the eighth and ninth centuries. By the time family members were documented living in Dublin in 1645, the name had evolved from a regional descriptor into a distinct family identity. These early ancestors likely lived through a period of intense political change in Ireland, as the city of Dublin served as a central hub for trade and shifting power dynamics during the mid-seventeenth century. The family name reflects this unique heritage, bridging the gap between the ancient Norse influence on the Irish landscape and the established urban life of seventeenth-century Dublin.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Finn Gall
Old Norse term for fair-haired foreigner or Viking.
This name
FingalRefers to the fair-haired Norse settlers who arrived in Ireland during the Viking Age.
also spelled
MacFingal
McFingal
Fingal
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Duffy, Seán. Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia. 2005
National Archives of Ireland. Civil Survey of the County of Dublin. 1654–1656
Ó Murchadha, Diarmuid. The Fingal Road. 1999
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
