A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Folio family of Britain.
Reg. 9418 · Britain, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à la bande d'arg. C.: un lion ramp. parti d'arg. et de gu.”
Britainc. 1700
Where the Folio Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Folio arms are recorded
The Folio arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Folio arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Folio Family in Britain
The family name Folio carries a history rooted in the landscape of Kent, England, where records confirm the family was established by the year 1700. The name itself is likely derived from the Latin word *folium*, which means leaf, and it may have originally functioned as a descriptive nickname for a person who lived near a prominent tree or worked with parchment in a clerical setting. During the early eighteenth century, Kent was a bustling region defined by its agricultural output and its proximity to the trade routes of the English Channel. Families like the Folios were often integrated into the local parish systems, which served as the primary method for tracking births, marriages, and deaths before modern census records existed. By settling in this region, early members of the family became part of the social fabric of rural England, contributing to the local economy and the development of their community over several generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Folium
Latin term meaning a leaf or sheet of paper.
This name
FolioRefers to a person who worked with leaves, parchment, or pages of a book.
also spelled
Folliot
Folyot
Folio
Folyott
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Everitt, Alan, Continuity and Colonization: The Evolution of Kentish Settlement, 1986
Kent History and Library Centre, Parish Registers of Kent, 1700–1750
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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
