A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fountaine family of Britain.
Reg. 0166 · Britain, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à la fasce de gu., acc. de trois têtes d'éléphant de sa. C.: une tête d'éléphant d'or.”
Britainc. 1700
Where the Fountaine Arms Were Recorded
Kent
Map of Britain showing where the Fountaine arms are recorded
The Fountaine arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1700.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats 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 Britain in this period.
William III of England
Sovereign of the period
William III of England
1694–1702
Reigning in Britain when the Fountaine arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Fountaine Family in Britain
The surname Fountaine is rooted in the Old French word "fontaine," which translates to a fountain or a natural spring. During the medieval period, this name was often given as a topographical descriptor to identify people who lived near a prominent water source or a public well. By the time the family established a documented presence in the county of Kent around 1700, the name had been adapted into the English naming tradition. Families in this region during the early eighteenth century were often involved in local agriculture or trade, benefiting from the fertile landscape of the Garden of England. As the name transitioned through generations, it became a fixed identifier for families who had integrated into the social and economic fabric of Kentish village life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fons
Latin word meaning a spring, fountain, or source of water.
This name
FountaineAn occupational or topographic name for someone who lived near a natural spring.
also spelled
Fontaine
Fountayn
Fowntain
Related arms
Fontainevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Kent Archives, Archdeaconry of Canterbury Wills and Administrations, PRC/17
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
elephantGreat strength, wit and ambition
