Map of England showing where the Foulke arms are recorded
The Foulke arms were recorded in Stafford, c. 1620.
Staffordshire was mixed country of moorland, farmland and early ironworking. Its landed families were spread widely rather than concentrated, and each holding brought its own claim to 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 Foulke 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 Stafford.
Origin & History of the Foulke Family in England
The surname Foulke originates from the Old French name Foulques, which was derived from a Germanic word meaning people or folk. By the time the name became established in England, it was commonly associated with families of status and local influence. Historical records confirm that members of the Foulke family were well-established in the county of Stafford by 1620. During this period, families in the Staffordshire region often played active roles in local governance and the management of rural estates. As the name spread across the English countryside, it evolved into various spellings, yet it remained rooted in the traditions of the Midlands. These early settlers helped shape the local community through their involvement in trade and regional administration long before many of their descendants eventually moved to the American colonies.
Foulke Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Folc
An Old English or Germanic term meaning people or folk.
This name
FoulkeDerived from a personal name meaning guardian of the people or people's protector.
also spelled
Fowke
Fowkes
Foulks
Related arms
Haselwoodsimilar arms
Foulksvariant spelling
Fowkevariant spelling
Fowkesvariant spelling
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
Staffordshire Record Office, Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Visitation Records, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
