A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fothergill family of England.
Reg. 0753 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Vert a buck's head couped or, a bordure engr. of the last”
WestmorelandRavenstonedale · Westmoreland, c. 1620
Where the Fothergill Arms Were Recorded
Westmoreland
Map of England showing where the Fothergill arms are recorded
The Fothergill arms were recorded in Westmoreland, c. 1620.
Westmorland was fell country in the north-west, farmed in small holdings by families who stayed put. Land changed hands rarely there, and families who held on for generations ended up with 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 Fothergill 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 Westmoreland.
Origin & History of the Fothergill Family in England
The surname Fothergill is a locational name that originated in the rugged landscape of Northern England. It is derived from the Old Norse words "fothr," meaning fox, and "gill," which refers to a narrow ravine or mountain valley. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a specific fox-filled gorge in the Westmorland region. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in this area, with records confirming their presence in Westmorland by 1620. Over time, the family became deeply rooted in the local community, often working as farmers or landowners who were shaped by the challenging terrain of the Lake District. Their history is closely tied to the development of these northern valleys, where the name served as a way to identify families by the specific geographic features of their ancestral homes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Old Norse 'fothr' and 'gil'
The words mean foot or bottom and a ravine or chasm.
This name
FothergillRefers to someone who lived at the bottom of a ravine or mountain gorge.
also spelled
Fothergyl
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. 1960
Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of British Surnames. 1958
Cumbria Archive Service, Kendal. Records of the Quarter Sessions for the County of Westmorland, WQ/SR
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bordureA difference between branches of one family
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
bordureA difference between branches of one family
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
