A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fly family of England.
Reg. 5413 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, on a chev. engr. sa. betw. three pellets, each charged with a martlet of the field, as many fleurs-de-lis gold”
HantsHants, c. 1620
Where the Fly Arms Were Recorded
Hants
Map of England showing where the Fly arms are recorded
The Fly arms were recorded in Hants, c. 1620.
Hampshire had the naval dockyards at Portsmouth on one side and good farmland on the other. Sea money and land money both bought estates, and an estate was what brought a family its coat 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 Fly 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 Hants.
Origin & History of the Fly Family in England
The surname Fly is a locational name that likely originated in the southern coastal regions of England. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Fly family were well-established in the county of Hampshire. During this period, families in this area often lived in rural parishes where they worked as farmers or skilled tradespeople. The name itself may have been derived from an Old English term describing a person who lived near a specific piece of land or a small stream. Because Hampshire served as a major hub for maritime activity and trade during the early seventeenth century, the Fly family was likely part of a stable community that supported the local economy. Their presence in these early parish registers suggests that they were settled, land-holding citizens who played a consistent role in the development of their local villages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fli
Old Norse word meaning a fugitive or a runaway person.
This name
FlyAn occupational or descriptive name for someone who was quick, fleet-footed, or a transient traveler.
also spelled
Flie
Flyee
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Hampshire Archives, Bishop's Transcripts of Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
