A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fitz family of England.
Reg. 3713 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. guttée de sang a cross engr. gu”
DevonFitzford · Devon, c. 1608
Where the Fitz Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Fitz arms are recorded
The Fitz 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 Fitz 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 Fitz Family in England
The name Fitz originates from the Old French word *fils*, which means son. Following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, this prefix became a common way to identify a person by their father’s name, such as Fitzroy meaning son of the king. By the time the family was firmly established in Devon in 1608, the name had evolved from a descriptive label into a permanent surname passed down through generations. Families with this name often held positions of local importance in the West Country, where they managed estates and participated in the civic life of their parishes. Over many centuries, the name became a marker of deep roots in the English landscape, reflecting a transition from simple patronymic identifiers to the stable family identities that define modern genealogy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fils
Old French term meaning son
This name
FitzAn Anglo-Norman prefix used to denote the illegitimate son of a nobleman
also spelled
Fiz
Fitts
Fytz
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Devon Archives, Quarter Sessions Records, 1608
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
