A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fitz-Walter family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3923 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à la fasce de gu., acc. de deux chev. du même, 1 en chef et 1 en p.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Fitz-Walter Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Fitz-Walter arms are recorded
The Fitz-Walter 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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Fitz-Walter 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-Walter Family in France
The origins of the Fitz-Walter name in France are deeply tied to the social structures of the Brittany region during the early eighteenth century. While the prefix Fitz is often associated with Norman influence, the family established a notable presence in the Breton countryside by 1725. During this period, the family functioned as part of the local landed class, navigating the complex administrative and agricultural systems of the French provinces. Their history in Brittany reflects a time when families were increasingly documented through parish registers and tax records as the French state sought to better track its rural population. By settling in this specific coastal region, the family became integrated into the local culture and economy, maintaining their distinct identity while adapting to the traditions of the Breton people. This era marked a transition for the family as they solidified their place in the social hierarchy of the region before the major political shifts that would later define French history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
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)
“Or, a fesse betw. two chevronels gu”
Englandc. 1295
Where the Fitz-Walter Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Fitz-Walter arms are recorded
The Fitz-Walter arms were recorded in England, c. 1295.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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.
Edward I of England
Sovereign of the period
Edward I of England
1272–1307
Reigning in France when the Fitz-Walter 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 England.
Origin & History of the Fitz-Walter Family in England
The surname Fitz-Walter emerged in England as a patronymic, meaning it was originally used to identify a person as the son of a man named Walter. Following the Norman Conquest, this naming style became common among the nobility and landowners who sought to establish clear lines of descent. By the late thirteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York. Records from 1295 indicate that members of the Fitz-Walter family were active participants in the civic and social life of this northern hub. During this era, York served as a vital center for trade and government, and the family likely integrated into the local merchant or administrative classes. Their transition from a descriptive name to a formal family identity reflects the broader shift in English society toward using fixed surnames to track lineage and property across generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Walter
Germanic name meaning ruler of the army or powerful warrior.
This name
Fitz-WalterDerived from the Norman French prefix meaning son of, signifying the son of Walter.
also spelled
Fizwalter
Phitzwalter
Fitzwarter
Fitzwauter
Fitzwaultier
Related arms
Fitz-Watervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Cours et juridictions)
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E (Familles et titres)
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Pocquet du Haut-Jussé, Barthélemy, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1937
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
