A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Foyle family of England.
Reg. 2989 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ar. a cross counter-compony sa. and or, betw. four trefoils slipped of the second”
DorsetDorset, c. 1609
Where the Foyle Arms Were Recorded
Dorset
Map of England showing where the Foyle arms are recorded
The Foyle arms were recorded in Dorset, c. 1609.
Dorset was quiet farming and grazing country along the south coast. Its gentry were middling rather than grand, but they held their manors for a very long time, and long holding is what puts a name in the records.
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 Foyle 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 Dorset.
Origin & History of the Foyle Family in England
The family name Foyle has deep roots in the English county of Dorset, where records confirm members of the family were well-established by the year 1609. Historians believe the name likely originated as a topographical surname, which was a common way for people to identify themselves based on the land where they lived. It is thought to be derived from the Middle English word "foil," meaning a leaf or a leafy place, suggesting that the earliest ancestors may have lived near a dense woodland or a specific patch of greenery. Over the centuries, the name evolved through various spellings as it was passed down through generations in the rural communities of the West Country. By the early 17th century, the Foyles had become a notable part of the local social fabric, often appearing in parish registers and legal documents that tracked the lives of landowners and farmers in the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
fol
Old French term for a madman or a fool.
This name
FoyleA nickname for a person perceived as foolish or eccentric.
also spelled
Foyll
Foyel
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Hutchins, John. The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 1774
Lower, Mark Antony. Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom. 1860
Dorset History Centre. Quarter Sessions Records, 1609. Ref: Q/SR
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
cross symbolChristian faith and service
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
