A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Foulks family of Wales.
Reg. 9414 · Welsh, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
duckResourcefulness on land and water
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. two sugar-canes in saltire ppr. surmounted by a fleur-de-lis gu. on a chief az. three plates, each charged with a mullet sa”
Walesc. 1647
Where the Foulks Arms Were Recorded
Denbigh
Map of Wales showing where the Foulks arms are recorded
The Foulks arms were recorded in Wales, c. 1647.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Denbigh.
Denbighshire was north Welsh country of hills and small estates. Land was held by a great many families rather than a few, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat 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 Wales in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Wales when the Foulks arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Wales
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 Wales.
Origin & History of the Foulks Family in Wales
The surname Foulks is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Fulk. The name Fulk itself is of Germanic origin and carries the meaning of "people" or "folk." By the time the family was firmly established in the town of Denbigh in 1647, the name had evolved through various spellings such as Foulkes, Fowkes, and Foulks. During this period, Denbigh was a significant market town in North Wales, and families with this name were often integrated into the local trade and social structures of the region. Because surnames were becoming more permanent fixtures of identity in the seventeenth century, the presence of the Foulks family in Denbigh records suggests they were settled members of the community who played a role in the local history of the Welsh borderlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Folc
An Old Germanic element meaning people or folk.
This name
FoulksDerived from a personal name meaning guardian of the people.
also spelled
Foulkes
Fowkes
Foulke
Related arms
Lloydsame arms
Foulkevariant spelling
Foulkesvariant spelling
Fowkesvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
National Library of Wales, Denbighshire Quarter Sessions Records
Denbighshire Archives, Parish Registers of Denbigh (St. Marcella’s Church)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
duckResourcefulness on land and water
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
duckResourcefulness on land and water
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
