A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fishwick family of England.
Reg. 7190 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Az. three fishes haurient or”
LancasterWithnell · Lancaster, c. 1620
Where the Fishwick Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Fishwick arms are recorded
The Fishwick arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Fishwick 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Fishwick Family in England
The name Fishwick originates from a small township located near Preston in the county of Lancashire. In Old English, the name is derived from the words "fisc," meaning fish, and "wic," which refers to a specialized farm or a dairy settlement. This suggests that the earliest people to carry the name were likely farmers who lived near the River Ribble, where they may have managed fishing rights or operated a riverside dairy. By the time records confirm the family presence in Lancaster in 1620, the name had already been established in the region for several generations. These early family members were part of the local community in Northwest England, where they lived as yeomen or tradespeople during a period of significant social and economic change in the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fisc and Wic
Old English for fish and a dwelling or specialized farmstead.
This name
FishwickRefers to a person who lived at a fish farm or a settlement near a fishery.
also spelled
Fishwike
Fisshewyk
Fysshewyk
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Place-Names of Lancashire. 1922
Fishwick, Henry. The History of the Parish of Preston in Amounderness in the County of Lancaster. 1900
Lancashire Archives. Bishop’s Transcripts of Parish Registers for the Diocese of Chester. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
