Map of Wales showing where the Fulks arms are recorded
The Fulks 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 Fulks 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 Fulks Family in Wales
The surname Fulks is a variation of the name Fulk, which originated as a personal name of Germanic origin meaning people’s guardian. During the Middle Ages, this name became popular across Europe and eventually evolved into a hereditary surname as families began to adopt fixed names for legal and tax purposes. By the mid-seventeenth century, members of the family were firmly established in Denbigh, Wales. Records from 1647 confirm their presence in this historic market town, which was a significant administrative and military center at the time. Living in a town dominated by a prominent medieval castle, these early family members likely participated in the local trade and civic life that defined the region during the turbulent years of the English Civil War. As the name moved through generations, it shifted from a simple given name to a distinct family identifier that linked its bearers to their specific community roots in Denbighshire.
Fulks Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Fulco
Derived from the Germanic word for folk or people.
This name
FulksA patronymic surname meaning son of the people's guardian or protector.
also spelled
Foulkes
Fowkes
Foulke
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
National Library of Wales, Denbighshire Quarter Sessions Records, 1647
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
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
