A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fitz-John family of England.
Reg. 5377 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Barry of six sa. and ar. in chief three plates”
EssexEssex, c. 1620
Where the Fitz-John Arms Were Recorded
Essex
Map of England showing where the Fitz-John arms are recorded
The Fitz-John arms were recorded in Essex, c. 1620.
Essex lay close enough to London for City money to buy land there. Merchants who prospered moved out to estates within a day's ride, and a new landowner almost always wanted arms to go with the ground.
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-John 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 Essex.
Origin & History of the Fitz-John Family in England
The surname Fitz-John is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of a man named John. The prefix "Fitz" comes from an old Anglo-Norman word that signifies "son of." During the Middle Ages, this naming convention was common among families of Norman descent who settled in England after the conquest of 1066. By the time the family was firmly established in Essex in 1620, the name had transitioned from a simple description of parentage into a permanent hereditary surname passed down through generations. Families living in Essex during the early seventeenth century often worked in agriculture or local trade, contributing to the growth of rural communities during a period of significant social change. As the family put down roots in this region, they became part of the local history that shaped the English countryside long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Filius Iohannis
Latin for son of John.
This name
Fitz-JohnA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named John.
also spelled
Fitzjhon
Fitzjon
Fitzjone
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Essex Record Office, Quarter Sessions Records, 1620
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roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
