A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fitz-Roy family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7559 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à trois fleurs-de-lis d'or (France); aux 2 et 3 de gu. à trois léopards d'or, l'un sur l'autre (Angleterre). Au bâton alésé d'arg., posé en barre, br. sur le tout. L'écu entouré d'une bord. écartelée, aux 1 et 4 d'herm. et aux 2 et 3 comp. d'arg. et d'azur. Sur le tout éc., de gu. plein, et d'un vairé d'or et de sin., au lion d'arg., br. sur cet écartelé, et au chef d'azur, ch. d'un château d'arg. accosté de deux rencontres de cerf du même.”
Francec. 1525
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Map of France showing where the Fitz-Roy arms are recorded
The Fitz-Roy arms were recorded in France, c. 1525.
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.
Francis I of France
Sovereign of the period
Francis I of France
1515–1547
Reigning in France when the Fitz-Roy 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-Roy Family in France
The name Fitz-Roy carries a unique meaning that reflects the social structures of medieval Europe. The prefix "Fitz" comes from an old French word meaning son, while "Roy" translates to king. This naming convention was often used to identify the illegitimate children of royalty or high-ranking nobility. By the time the family appeared in the historical records of Bretagne in 1525, the name had evolved from a simple description of parentage into a formal surname. During this period in France, families with such names were often connected to the complex political networks of the regional aristocracy. Living in Bretagne, these individuals likely navigated the shifting loyalties between local dukes and the French crown. Their presence in the region suggests they held a status that allowed them to maintain their identity across generations as they integrated into the local society of northwestern France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
lionCourage, strength and royalty
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“France and England, a bordure quarterly, erm. and compony ar. and az. a baton sinister of the second, on an inescutcheon quarterly, gu. and vairé, or and vert, a lion ramp. ar. on a chief az. a castle betw. two bucks' heads cabossed ar”
SomersetRichmond · Somerset, c. 1525
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Map of England showing where the Fitz-Roy arms are recorded
The Fitz-Roy arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1525.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 England in this period.
Henry VIII of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VIII of England
1509–1547
Reigning in France when the Fitz-Roy 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Fitz-Roy Family in England
The surname FitzRoy carries a distinct historical weight because it translates literally from Old French as the son of the king. In the context of medieval England, this name was often bestowed upon the illegitimate children of monarchs to signify their royal bloodline while distinguishing them from legitimate heirs. By the time the family appeared in the historical records of Somerset in 1525, the name had evolved from a direct royal title into a hereditary surname passed down through generations. These early settlers in the West Country lived during a period of significant social transition under the Tudor dynasty. Their presence in Somerset suggests that the family had established a stable life in the region, moving away from the immediate royal court to become part of the local landed gentry or professional classes. This shift reflects how names of royal origin eventually integrated into the broader fabric of English society as families settled into specific counties and built their own local legacies.
Fitz-Roy Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Filius Regis
Latin phrase meaning son of the king.
This name
Fitz-RoyAn Anglo-Norman surname historically used to denote the illegitimate offspring of a monarch.
also spelled
Fizroy
Phitzroy
Fitzroi
Fitzroie
Related arms
Beauclerksame arms
Fitz-Charlessame arms
Fitz-Jamessimilar arms
Lennoxsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
C.T. Onions, The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, 1966
Albert Dauzat, Les noms de famille de France, 1945
P.H. Reaney, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E: Familles, seigneuries et terres
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série G: Clergé séculier
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
bordureA difference between branches of one family
