A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fitzharris family of Britain.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominionJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu., au chef d'or.”
The Fitzharris arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Britain in this period.
Reigning in Britain when the Fitzharris arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Fitzharris is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Harris. The prefix "Fitz" comes from an old Anglo-Norman word meaning son, and it was commonly used by families of Norman descent to establish their lineage. While the name has roots that stretch back to the medieval period, records show that the family established a notable presence in the county of Kent by the year 1700. During this era, families with this name were often involved in local agriculture and trade, which allowed them to settle into the social fabric of the English countryside. Over time, the name became a permanent fixture in the region, reflecting the migration patterns and naming traditions that defined English society during the eighteenth century.
Germanic name meaning home ruler or ruler of the enclosure.
