Fitzmaurice Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fitzmaurice family lines. Documented in 3 countries.

Reg. 7103 · French, D–F

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Symbols on this shield

saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross

chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion

towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended

Colours

Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity

Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth

Red (Gules)Means: Military strength

ErmineMeans: Dignity

Historical info

Source

J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87

Blazon (the actual original written record)

“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. au saut. de gu.; au chef d'herm. (Fitzmaurice); aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une tour d'arg. (Mac Cloade). C.: un centaure-sagittaire, la partie humaine de carn., le reste d'arg. S.: à dextre un lion de gu., à sen. un griffon d'or. D.: VIRTUTE NON VERBIS.”

Francec. 1725

Where the Fitzmaurice Arms Were Recorded

Bretagne

Map of France showing where the Fitzmaurice arms are recorded

The Fitzmaurice 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.

Region: Bretagne
First recorded: 1725

Granting Authority for the Fitzmaurice Arms

Authority

Juge d'armes de France

1407-1789

The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.

Sovereign of the period

Louis XV of France

1715–1774

Reigning in France when the Fitzmaurice 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 Fitzmaurice Family in France

The Fitzmaurice name has deep roots that stretch across the English Channel into the region of Brittany, France. While the name is famously associated with the Anglo-Norman expansion into Ireland, members of the family established a significant presence in the French province of Bretagne by the early eighteenth century. By 1725, records indicate that these individuals were integrated into the local social and professional structures of the region. This migration was often driven by the complex political and military alliances of the era, which frequently saw families moving between the British Isles and the continent. Once in France, the family adapted to the local culture while maintaining their distinct identity. Their presence in Brittany highlights the long history of movement and cultural exchange between the coastal regions of France and the neighboring islands.

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Symbols on this shield

bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander

saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross

chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion

mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above

Colours

ErmineMeans: Dignity

Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity

Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth

Gold (Or)Means: Generosity

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)

“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, erm. on a bend az. a magnetic needle pointing at a polar star or, for PETTY; 2nd and 3rd, ar. a saltire gu. a chief erm., for FITZ-MAURICE”

KerryLansdowne · Kerry, c. 1645

Where the Fitzmaurice Arms Were Recorded

Kerry

Map of Ireland showing where the Fitzmaurice arms are recorded

The Fitzmaurice arms were recorded in Kerry, c. 1645.

Kerry was mountain and coast country in the far south-west of Ireland. Its land was poor and held by a few families for a very long time, and long unbroken holding fills a register.

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.

Region: Kerry
Town: Lansdowne
First recorded: 1645

Granting Authority for the Fitzmaurice Arms

Authority

Ulster King of Arms

1552-1943

The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.

Sovereign of the period

Charles I of England

1625–1649

Reigning in France when the Fitzmaurice arms are first recorded.

How Arms Worked in Ireland

The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.

Granting authority: The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms: Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded: All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing: Recorded among the armigerous families of Kerry.

Origin & History of the Fitzmaurice Family in Ireland

The Fitzmaurice name has deep roots in Ireland that trace back to the Norman invasion of the twelfth century. The family originated from the Anglo-Norman leader Maurice FitzGerald, whose descendants adopted the surname to signify their status as the sons of Maurice. By the time the family was firmly established in County Kerry in 1645, they had become deeply integrated into the local landscape and political structure of the region. They held significant lands and influence, often acting as powerful lords who navigated the complex shifts in Irish power between the native Gaelic chieftains and the incoming English administration. Over several centuries, the family transitioned from being seen as foreign settlers to becoming a central part of the history and culture of Kerry. Their presence in the seventeenth century reflects a long period of adaptation where they balanced their Norman heritage with the traditions of the Irish people among whom they lived.

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Symbols on this shield

chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion

shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken

cinquefoilHope and joy

heartSincerity, charity and true affection

mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above

Colours

Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth

Red (Gules)Means: Military strength

Gold (Or)Means: Generosity

ErmineMeans: Dignity

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)

“Quarterly, 1st, az. a ship at anchor, oars crossed in saltire, within a double-tressure flory counterflory or, for ORKNEY; 2nd, quarterly, 1st and 4th, gu. three cinquefoils erm., for HAMILTON, 2nd and 3rd, ar. a ship sails furled sa., for ARRAN; 4th, ar. a human heart imperially crowned ppr. on a chief az. three mullets of the field, for DOUGLAS”

OrkneyOrkney, c. 1748

Where the Fitzmaurice Arms Were Recorded

Orkney

Map of Scotland showing where the Fitzmaurice arms are recorded

The Fitzmaurice arms were recorded in Orkney, c. 1748.

Orkney was Norse country until it came to Scotland in 1468, and its landholders kept Norse customs after. Families held their own ground outright, and outright holding brought 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.

Region: Orkney
First recorded: 1748

Granting Authority for the Fitzmaurice Arms

Authority

Court of the Lord Lyon

c. 1318-present

The body that granted and recorded arms in Scotland in this period.

Sovereign of the period

George II of Great Britain

1727–1760

Reigning in France when the Fitzmaurice arms are first recorded.

How Arms Worked in Scotland

Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.

Granting authority: The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms: Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded: All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing: Recorded among the armigerous families of Orkney.

Origin & History of the Fitzmaurice Family in Scotland

The name Fitzmaurice is primarily associated with the Anglo-Norman influence in Ireland, but its presence in Scotland reveals a distinct chapter of movement and settlement. The prefix Fitz indicates a son of Maurice, a name that became prominent across the British Isles after the arrival of the Normans. By the mid-eighteenth century, historical records confirm that members of the Fitzmaurice family were established in the Orkney Islands. This northern archipelago served as a crossroads for maritime trade and cultural exchange between Scotland and Scandinavia. Families residing in Orkney during this period often navigated the complex social structures of island life, which were shaped by both Scottish law and long-standing Norse traditions. The arrival of the family in this remote region suggests a history of migration that likely followed the paths of trade or military service common to the era. While their roots trace back to broader European lineages, the Fitzmaurices in Orkney became part of the unique social fabric of the northern isles during the eighteenth century.