A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fleetwood family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8636 · Swedish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. au lion de gu.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une couronne royale d'or. A la croix pattée d'arg., br. sur l'écartelé. Sur le tout de Fleetwood, qui est parti-nébulé d'or et d'azur; à six martinets de l'un à l'autre, rangés en deux pals. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º un loup pass. et reg. au nat., le col blessé et dégouttant de sang; 2º le lion du 1.”
Swedenc. 1654
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Map of Sweden showing where the Fleetwood arms are recorded
The Fleetwood arms were recorded in Sweden, c. 1654.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Stockholm.
Stockholm held the Swedish court and the House of Nobility, where every noble family's arms were entered and kept. Families ennobled for service registered there, which is why so many are recorded around the city.
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 Sweden in this period.
Christina of Sweden
Sovereign of the period
Christina of Sweden
1632–1654
Reigning in Sweden when the Fleetwood arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Sweden
In Sweden, a coat of arms belonged to a noble family as a whole rather than just one individual. These arms were passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants. Younger branches of the family used the same shield without needing to change it. This system ensured that the entire lineage shared the same identity and status under the law.
Granting authority
The Riddarhuset, or House of Nobility, regulated all noble coats of arms in Sweden under royal authority.
How they got arms
Families received their coats of arms through royal grants of nobility which were then officially registered with the House.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Swedish House of Nobility register starting in the year 1626.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Sweden.
Origin & History of the Fleetwood Family in Sweden
The Fleetwood family established their roots in Sweden during the mid-seventeenth century when George Fleetwood, an English officer, moved to the country to serve the Swedish Crown. By 1654, the family had become well-established in Stockholm, where they integrated into the upper levels of Swedish society. George Fleetwood was eventually granted the title of Baron, which allowed his descendants to hold significant influence within the Swedish nobility. Over the following generations, the family members took on important roles as military officers, diplomats, and government officials. Their transition from English origins to Swedish nobility highlights how foreign families often shaped the political and social landscape of Sweden during the era of the Swedish Empire.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bordureA difference between branches of one family
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, per pale nebulée az. and or, six martlets, two, two, and two, counterchanged, a canton ar., for FLEETWOOD; 2nd and 3rd, ar. on a bend sa. three garbs or, a chief az. thereon an eagle with two heads displ. ppr. all within a bordure erminois, for HESKETH; the whole four quarters within a bordure wavy quarterly erm. and az”
Englandc. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Fleetwood arms are recorded
The Fleetwood 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 Sweden when the Fleetwood 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 Fleetwood Family in England
The surname Fleetwood is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people who lived near a specific place. It is derived from the Old English words "fleot," meaning a stream or an estuary, and "wudu," meaning a wood. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. During this era, York served as a major center for commerce and administration in Northern England, making it a strategic location for families of rising social standing. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Fleetwood family were active participants in the civic and social life of the city. As the family grew, they became deeply involved in the political and religious shifts that defined England during the 1600s, often serving in local government roles that helped shape the development of the region.
Fleetwood Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Flet
Old English term for a floor or a dwelling.
This name
FleetwoodRefers to someone who lived near a stream or a wooded area with a dwelling.
also spelled
Fletewood
Fletewode
Fleetwode
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Elgenstierna, Gustaf. Den introducerade svenska adelns ättartavlor. 1926
Fleetwood, George. Letters of Sir George Fleetwood to his father, Sir Miles Fleetwood, 1632-1633. 1899
Riksarkivet (National Archives of Sweden), Riksregistraturet
Riksarkivet (National Archives of Sweden), Adelsbrev
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
lionCourage, strength and royalty
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
bordureA difference between branches of one family
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
