Map of England showing where the Fitts arms are recorded
The Fitts arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1608.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat of 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 Fitts 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 Devon.
Origin & History of the Fitts Family in England
The surname Fitts has deep roots in the English county of Devon, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1608. The name is generally considered a variation of Fitz, which comes from the Old French word for son. In medieval times, this prefix was often added to a father’s first name to identify his children, such as Fitz-Piers or Fitz-Herbert. Over many generations, the spelling evolved into Fitts as families settled into specific regions and local dialects influenced the pronunciation. By the early seventeenth century, the Fitts family in Devon was part of a growing class of landowners and tradespeople who were beginning to document their lives through parish registers and legal deeds. These early records show that the family was well-integrated into the local community, participating in the agricultural and social life of the West Country long before many of their descendants eventually crossed the Atlantic to the American colonies.
Fitts Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Filius
Latin term meaning son or offspring.
This name
FittsA patronymic surname derived from the son of a man named Fitz.
also spelled
Fiz
Fitts
Fytz
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
Devon Archives, Parish Register Transcripts for the Diocese of Exeter, 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.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
cross symbolChristian faith and service
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
