A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fitz-Herbert family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 5543 · Britain, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'arg., au chef vairé d'or et de gu.; à la bande d'azur, br. sur le tout.”
Britainc. 1700
Where the Fitz-Herbert Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Fitz-Herbert arms are recorded
The Fitz-Herbert 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.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Fitz-Herbert arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Fitz-Herbert Family in Britain
The surname FitzHerbert is a classic example of a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Herbert. The prefix "Fitz" comes from an old Anglo-Norman word that indicates a son, making the name literally mean "son of Herbert." While the family had deep roots in various parts of England for centuries, the presence of the family in Kent by the year 1700 reflects a common pattern of movement among English families during the early modern period. Many families with this name held significant roles in local administration and land management, often serving as trusted officials or landowners who helped maintain order in their respective counties. Over time, the name became a permanent marker of their lineage, helping to distinguish their specific branch of the family as they moved from their ancestral origins into the vibrant social and economic landscape of Kent.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
vairProtection, and the winter fur
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. a chief vair (another, vairé or and gu.) over all a bend engr. sa”
LeicesterLeicester, c. 1620
Where the Fitz-Herbert Arms Were Recorded
Leicester
Map of England showing where the Fitz-Herbert arms are recorded
The Fitz-Herbert arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1620.
Leicestershire was grazing country, and wool and cattle made steady money rather than spectacular fortunes. Steady money bought manors, and manors are what brought families into the registers.
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 Britain when the Fitz-Herbert 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 Leicester.
Origin & History of the Fitz-Herbert Family in England
The surname FitzHerbert is a classic example of a patronymic name, which means it was originally formed by adding the prefix "fitz" to a father's given name. In Old French, "fitz" translates to "son of," identifying the earliest bearers as the sons of a man named Herbert. While the name carries deep roots in the Norman period following the conquest of England, the family established a notable presence in Leicester by 1620. During this era, families often settled in regional hubs to participate in the growing trade and civic life of the English Midlands. As the name moved from a simple description of parentage to a permanent family identifier, it became a marker of the family's integration into the local social and legal structures of the time. By the early seventeenth century, the FitzHerberts were well-positioned within the community, reflecting the broader transition of surnames from fluid identifiers to stable markers of lineage and heritage.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. a chief vairé or and gu. over all a bend az”
Walesc. 1294
Where the Fitz-Herbert Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Fitz-Herbert arms are recorded
The Fitz-Herbert arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1294.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to 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 Wales in this period.
Edward I of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward I of England
1272–1307
Reigning in Britain when the Fitz-Herbert arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Wales.
Origin & History of the Fitz-Herbert Family in Wales
The FitzHerbert family name emerged as a mark of Norman influence, as the prefix "Fitz" signifies "son of" in the language of the conquerors. By the late thirteenth century, members of this family had established a notable presence in the Welsh borderlands, specifically within the lordship of Denbigh. In 1294, the region was engulfed in the uprising led by Madog ap Llywelyn, a significant revolt against English authority. The FitzHerberts living in Denbigh at this time were part of a small group of settlers tasked with maintaining order in a volatile frontier territory. Their presence in North Wales highlights how families of Norman descent integrated into the local landscape while serving the interests of the English Crown during a period of intense political instability. Over time, these early residents helped bridge the gap between the incoming administration and the existing Welsh social structures.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Herbert
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bright army or famous warrior.
This name
Fitz-HerbertAn Anglo-Norman patronymic surname signifying the son of Herbert.
also spelled
Fizherbert
Phitzherbert
Fitzharbert
Fitzherberd
Fitzherbard
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
The National Archives, Probate records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1700
Kent History and Library Centre, Parish registers of Kent, 1700
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
