A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Francies family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Erm. three bars sa”
The Francies arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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.
Reigning in England when the Francies arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Francies is a variation of the name Francis, which traces its linguistic roots back to the Latin word *franciscus*, meaning a free man or a person from the land of the Franks. By the early 17th century, the name had become established in the historic city of York, England. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were living and working within this northern hub during a period of significant social and economic transition. At that time, families in York were often deeply integrated into the local trade guilds and parish life, which helped them build a lasting presence in the region. As the name evolved through various spellings in local parish registers, it remained tied to the identity of independent citizens who contributed to the growth of their community. This early history reflects a family that was well-settled in the heart of Yorkshire, participating in the daily rhythms of English life during the reign of King James I.
A Latin name meaning a Frenchman or a free man.
