A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fog family of Denmark.
Reg. 8361 · Danish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un arbre de sin., mouv. de la p.; au chef d'azur, ch. d'un pélican d'or s'ouvrant la poitrine. C.: le pélican.”
Denmarkc. 1707
Where the Fog Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Fog arms are recorded
The Fog arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1707.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a 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 Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Fog arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Fog Family in Denmark
The surname Fog has deep roots in the Danish landscape, with historical records confirming the presence of the family in Sjælland as early as 1707. During this period, the name was often associated with families living in rural or coastal communities where they worked as farmers, craftsmen, or local officials. In the Danish language, the word "fog" relates to a snowstorm or drifting snow, which may have served as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who lived in a particularly windswept area or perhaps had a personality as intense as a winter gale. As the family grew, they established themselves within the social structures of the Danish islands, eventually spreading their influence through generations of local service and trade. Their history reflects the broader movement of families across the Danish countryside during the eighteenth century, marking them as a stable and enduring part of the region's cultural heritage.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fogh
A Danish term referring to a fox or a crafty person.
This name
FogA topographic or habitational name likely denoting someone associated with a fox or a cunning individual.
also spelled
Fogg
Fog
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Rigsarkivet (The Danish National Archives), Kirkebøger for Sjællands Stift (Parish registers for the Diocese of Sjælland)
Rigsarkivet (The Danish National Archives), Folketællinger (Census records)
Hald, Kristian, Danske Stednavne (1965)
Nielsen, O., Olddanske Personnavne (1883)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
