A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fletes family of England.
Reg. 1149 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
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 sinister quarter ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Fletes Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Fletes arms are recorded
The Fletes 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 Fletes 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 Fletes Family in England
The surname Fletes is rooted in the historical landscape of Northern England, with documented evidence placing family members in the city of York as early as 1620. The name likely originated as a topographical identifier, derived from the Old English word "fleot," which referred to a small stream, an estuary, or a tidal inlet. Families living near these water features often adopted the name to distinguish themselves within their local community. By the early 17th century, the Fletes family had established a presence in York, a city that served as a vital hub for trade and administration. During this period, the family would have been part of the growing urban population that navigated the social and economic shifts of the Stuart era. Their early residency in such a significant historical center suggests they were integrated into the local merchant or artisan classes that defined the city’s character during the 1600s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
flet
Old English word meaning a floor or a dwelling.
This name
FletesAn occupational surname for someone who lived in or worked at a dwelling.
also spelled
Fleete
Fletes
Flete
Flett
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
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chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
