A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fortes family of England.
Reg. 0039 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
vairProtection, and the winter fur
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
VairMeans: Protection
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)
“Gu. a cross patonce vair”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Fortes Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Fortes arms are recorded
The Fortes 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 Fortes 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 Fortes Family in England
The surname Fortes has deep roots that reflect the movement and social shifts of the seventeenth century. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in the historic city of York, a major center of trade and religion in Northern England. The name itself is thought to derive from the Latin word fortis, meaning strong or brave, which was often used as a nickname to describe a person of great physical power or steady character. As families began to adopt permanent surnames during the Middle Ages, this descriptor evolved into a hereditary name passed down through generations. During the early seventeenth century, the Fortes family in York would have lived through a time of significant transition as the city navigated the complex political and religious climate of the Stuart era. Their presence in such a prominent urban hub suggests they were likely involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled trades that defined the economy of York at the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fortis
Latin term meaning strong, brave, or steadfast.
This name
FortesA descriptive surname denoting a person of great strength or physical courage.
also spelled
Fortes
Forte
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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
The National Archives, York City Archives: House Books of the Corporation of York, 1620
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
