Map of England showing where the Fitz-Water arms are recorded
The Fitz-Water 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-Water 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-Water Family in England
The surname Fitzwater is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Walter. In Middle English, the prefix "Fitz" was borrowed from Old French to denote a son, and over time, the name evolved from "Fitz-Walter" into the modern spelling. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Essex. Records from 1620 show that members of the family were living in this region during a period of significant social and economic change in England. As they settled into their local communities, the family likely participated in the agricultural and trade activities that defined life in rural Essex at the time. This period marked a transition for many families as they solidified their roots in specific parishes, leaving behind the records that allow us to trace their history today.
Fitz-Water Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Filius Aquae
Latin for son of the water.
This name
Fitz-WaterAn occupational or locational surname denoting a person who lived near or worked with water.
also spelled
Fitzwalter
Fitzwauter
Related arms
Fitz-Walker, or Fitz-Waltersimilar arms
Fitz-Waltervariant spelling
Wellesrecorded with Fitz-Water, same area
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 Rolls, 1620
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
