Map of France showing where the Foster arms are recorded
The Foster arms were recorded in Boston, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Foster arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Foster Family in France
The family name Foster, while often associated with English origins, has a distinct and documented history within the region of Bretagne in France. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of this family were well-established in the local community. During this period, the name was frequently linked to the occupation of a forester or a keeper of the woods. In the dense and sprawling forests of northwestern France, these individuals held a position of significant responsibility. They managed timber resources and protected the land for local lords or the church. As the family integrated into the social fabric of Bretagne, they transitioned from being simple laborers to becoming respected members of the rural economy. Their presence in the region reflects a time when surnames were often tied directly to the specific trade or daily work performed by a person. This connection to the land allowed the family to maintain a consistent identity across generations in the French countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ar. a chev. betw. three buglehorns vert stringed or”
YorkYork, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Foster arms are recorded
The Foster arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 France when the Foster 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 York.
Origin & History of the Foster Family in England
The surname Foster originated as an occupational name in medieval England, derived from the Middle English word "foster," which meant a forester or a keeper of the woods. During the feudal era, individuals who managed royal forests or private estates were essential to the local economy, as they protected timber resources and regulated hunting rights. By the time members of the family were documented in York in 1620, the name had become well-established across northern England. At this point in history, the Fosters in York were likely part of the growing merchant and artisan classes that defined the city’s urban identity. As the name transitioned from a professional title to a hereditary family name, it reflected the importance of land management and rural administration in the lives of early English ancestors.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. a chev. erm. betw. three pheons, points downwards ar”
Irelandc. 1645
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Map of Ireland showing where the Foster arms are recorded
The Foster arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in France when the Foster arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Ireland.
Origin & History of the Foster Family in Ireland
The surname Foster originated as an occupational name for a forester or someone who managed woodlands, but its presence in Ireland took on a distinct character during the seventeenth century. By 1645, records confirm that members of the Foster family were well-established in Dublin, a city that served as a central hub for administration and trade during a period of significant political upheaval. These early settlers often integrated into the urban professional class, serving as merchants, legal officials, or members of the local government. Because the name was brought to Ireland primarily by English settlers, it became closely associated with the administrative and social structures of the Pale. Over time, the family name became deeply rooted in the Irish landscape, transitioning from a description of a profession into a permanent marker of a family’s influence in the capital and the surrounding regions.
Foster Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
foster
derived from the old french word for a forester or woodsman
This name
Fosteran occupational surname for someone who worked as a forest guardian
also spelled
Fosterr
Forster
Related arms
Forstersame arms
Petitsame arms
Forster de Bamboroughsimilar arms
Forrestervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Pottier, Jean, Les métiers de la forêt en Bretagne au XVIIIe siècle, 1984
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1992
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
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
