A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fiske family of England.
Reg. 7308 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Chequy ar. and gu. on a pale sa. three mullets or”
EssexEssex, c. 1620
Where the Fiske Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Fiske arms are recorded
The Fiske arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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 Fiske 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Fiske Family in England
The surname Fiske is of ancient English origin and is believed to be a descriptive name derived from the Old Norse word fiskr, which means fish. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name may have been involved in the fishing trade or lived near a prominent fishery. By the early 17th century, the family had established deep roots in the county of Essex, where they were recognized as substantial landowners and members of the local gentry. When members of the Fiske family departed for the American colonies around 1620, they carried with them a history of agricultural management and community leadership that had been refined over generations in the English countryside. Their transition from the rural landscapes of Essex to the New World marked the beginning of a new chapter for a lineage that had already spent centuries building its reputation in East Anglia.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fisc
An Old English term referring to a fish.
This name
FiskeA topographic or occupational name for someone who lived near a fishery or worked as a fisherman.
also spelled
Fyske
Fysk
Related arms
Fyskevariant spelling
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
Pierce, Frederick Clifton, Fiske and Fisk Family: Being the Record of the Descendants of Symond Fiske, Lord of the Manor of Stadhaugh, Suffolk County, England, 1896
Essex Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1600–1650
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
