A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fleet family of England.
Reg. 4898 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Chequy or and gu. a canton ar”
KentKent, c. 1620
Where the Fleet Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of England showing where the Fleet arms are recorded
The Fleet arms were recorded in Kent, c. 1620.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Fleet 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 Kent.
Origin & History of the Fleet Family in England
The surname Fleet is a locational name that originated in England, typically referring to people who lived near a body of water such as a stream, a creek, or an estuary. The word itself comes from the Old English term *fleot*, which describes a place where ships could float or navigate. By the time members of the family were documented in Kent in 1620, the name had already been established for several generations across various English counties. Families with this name were often associated with coastal regions or river valleys where the landscape dictated the local economy and travel. Because the name was tied to the geography of the land, it appeared independently in different parts of the country as people moved and settled near these vital waterways. Over time, the spelling became standardized, but the name remains a direct link to the physical environment where the earliest ancestors made their homes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fleot
Old English term for a stream, inlet, or estuary.
This name
FleetA topographic name for someone who lived near a tidal inlet or a small stream.
also spelled
Flete
Fletee
Related arms
Fletevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
