Map of England showing where the Flakes arms are recorded
The Flakes arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Flakes 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Flakes Family in England
The surname Flakes is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Norfolk, England, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1620. During this period, Norfolk was a bustling hub of agriculture and trade, and families with this name were often integrated into the local rural economy. The name itself likely evolved as a descriptive nickname or a locational identifier, reflecting the linguistic shifts common in East Anglia during the seventeenth century. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, participating in the daily life of parish communities and local industry. Their presence in Norfolk during the early seventeenth century suggests they were among the many families who helped shape the development of the English countryside before the era of mass migration to the American colonies.
Flakes Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
flake
Old Norse word meaning a thin layer, slice, or hurdle.
This name
FlakesOriginally a topographic name for someone living near a hurdle or a thin layer of earth.
also spelled
Folks
Fowkes
Foulkes
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Rye, Walter. A History of Norfolk. 1885
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Register Transcripts for the Diocese of Norwich, 1600–1650
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fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
