A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fishburn family of England.
Reg. 0392 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. a fleur-de-lis sa”
DurhamDurham, c. 1634
Where the Fishburn Arms Were Recorded
Durham
Map of England showing where the Fishburn arms are recorded
The Fishburn arms were recorded in Durham, c. 1634.
Durham was governed by its bishop rather than the crown for most of its history, with its own courts and its own landed class. That separate world produced a tight group of families, nearly all of whom held 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.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in England when the Fishburn 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 Durham.
Origin & History of the Fishburn Family in England
The surname Fishburn is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from the village of Fishburn located in County Durham, England. The name itself likely comes from the Old English words for a stream where fish were caught. By the time of the 1634 heraldic visitation of Durham, the family was well-established in the region as members of the local gentry. Because the family took their name from the land they occupied, their history is deeply tied to the geography of Northern England. Over the centuries, the family name spread from this small village to other parts of the British Isles and eventually across the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fisc and Burna
Old English for fish and a stream or brook.
This name
FishburnRefers to someone who lived near a stream where fish were caught.
also spelled
Fishburn
Fishbourne
Fissheborne
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Surtees, Robert, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham, 1816
The National Archives, Visitation of the County of Durham, 1634
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fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
