A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fitz-Alan family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1790 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. au lion d'or, arm. et lamp. d'azur. C.: un cheval d'arg., pass. sur une terrasse de sin. et tenant entre ses dents une branche de chène du même.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Fitz-Alan Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Fitz-Alan arms are recorded
The Fitz-Alan arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Fitz-Alan arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Fitz-Alan Family in France
The history of the Fitz-Alan name in France is deeply tied to the rugged landscape and distinct culture of the Brittany region. While the name is often associated with later influence in Britain, its roots in the French countryside show a family deeply integrated into the local social structures of the eighteenth century. By 1725, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of Bretagne, where they lived as part of the local community. During this era, families in the region often navigated complex shifts in land ownership and regional governance. The Fitz-Alan family members were likely involved in the agricultural or administrative life of their parishes, maintaining their presence through generations of rural development. Their history in France reflects the broader experience of families who helped shape the identity of the Breton provinces long before the modern era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
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. a lion ramp. and a border or”
NorfolkArundel · Norfolk, c. 1620
Where the Fitz-Alan Arms Were Recorded
Norfolk
Map of England showing where the Fitz-Alan arms are recorded
The Fitz-Alan arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 France when the Fitz-Alan 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Fitz-Alan Family in England
The name Fitz-Alan carries a deep historical connection to the Norman influence in England. The prefix Fitz is a traditional French term meaning son of, which indicates that the family line was established by an ancestor named Alan. While the name has roots reaching back to the period following the Norman Conquest, the family became firmly rooted in the English landscape over several centuries. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of Norfolk. This region was a center of trade and agriculture, and families like the Fitz-Alans often played active roles in the local community life of the time. Their presence in Norfolk suggests a transition from their earlier origins into the settled life of the English countryside, where they continued to maintain their family identity for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alain
A Breton name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning little rock.
This name
Fitz-AlanSon of Alan, derived from the Norman patronymic prefix Fitz meaning son of.
also spelled
Phitzalan
Fizalan
Fitz-Alen
Fitzallen
Related arms
Fitz-Allenvariant spelling
Fitz-Alleynevariant spelling
Albinirecorded with Fitz-Alan, same area
Hopkinsrecorded with Fitz-Alan, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
Poterie, Jean de la, Histoire de Bretagne, 1734
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mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bordureA difference between branches of one family
