A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fitz-Warin family of England.
Reg. 3723 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Gu. a fesse or, betw. six martlets ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Fitz-Warin Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Fitz-Warin arms are recorded
The Fitz-Warin arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Fitz-Warin 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-Warin Family in England
The surname Fitz-Warin is a classic example of a patronymic name, which means it was created to identify a person as the son of a man named Warin. The prefix "Fitz" comes from an old French word that was commonly used by the nobility in England following the Norman Conquest. By the time the family was recorded living in York in 1620, the name had already been established for several centuries as a way to track lineage and family ties. Families with this name often held land or served in local government roles during the medieval period. As the name moved through different generations, it became a permanent marker of the family’s history and their connection to their ancestors. The presence of the family in York by the seventeenth century suggests they were part of the growing urban population that helped shape the city during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Warin
Derived from the Germanic name Warino meaning guard or protector.
This name
Fitz-WarinA patronymic surname meaning son of Warin, often denoting a Norman noble lineage.
also spelled
Fitzwaryn
Fitzwaring
Related arms
Fitz-Warrenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
The National Archives, Probate Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, PROB 11
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
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
