A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Furneaux family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 0105 · Belgian, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'herm. à trois fasces de gu.”
Belgiumc. 1737
Where the Furneaux Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Furneaux arms are recorded
The Furneaux arms were recorded in Belgium, c. 1737.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Brabant.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Furneaux arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Belgium.
Origin & History of the Furneaux Family in Belgium
The family name Furneaux traces its roots in the Low Countries to the historic region of Brabant, where members of the family were firmly established by 1737. During this period, Brabant was a bustling center of trade and agriculture under the rule of the Austrian Habsburgs. Families with this surname likely integrated into the local social fabric by participating in the guild systems or the administrative life of the duchy. The name itself suggests a connection to the landscape, as it is often associated with the Old French word for a furnace or an oven, implying that early ancestors may have been skilled craftsmen or metalworkers. As the family settled into the towns and rural parishes of the region, they became part of the diverse population that navigated the complex political shifts of eighteenth-century Europe. By maintaining their presence in Brabant, these early Furneaux individuals helped shape the local community and contributed to the regional history of what would eventually become modern Belgium.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à la bande d'or, acc. de six croix recr. du même, rangées en orle.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Furneaux Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Furneaux arms are recorded
The Furneaux arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Belgium when the Furneaux arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Normandie.
Origin & History of the Furneaux Family in France
The family name Furneaux finds its roots in the historical region of Normandy, France. By the mid-seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well established within this area. The name itself is linked to the geography of the French landscape, as it likely evolved from old terms describing a place near a kiln or a furnace. During the year 1663, the family was documented as part of the local population in Normandy. This period was a time of significant social structure in France, and families living in the region often held roles connected to the land or local trade. The presence of the Furneaux name in these early records suggests that they were settled members of the community long before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Sa. a pale lozengy ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Furneaux Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Furneaux arms are recorded
The Furneaux 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Belgium when the Furneaux 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 England.
Origin & History of the Furneaux Family in England
The surname Furneaux is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, originating as a locative name that identified individuals from specific places in Normandy before the family established deep roots across the British Isles. By the early 17th century, the family had become well-integrated into the social fabric of northern England, with records confirming their presence in the city of York by 1620. During this era, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, and families like the Furneaux often played active roles in the local merchant classes or parish life. As the family settled into these urban environments, they transitioned from their earlier associations with rural landholdings to becoming part of the growing professional and civic communities that defined the Stuart period. This shift reflects a broader pattern of social mobility where established families adapted to the changing economic landscape of English cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
furnus
Latin term for an oven or a kiln.
This name
FurneauxA topographic name for someone who lived near a communal village oven.
also spelled
Furneau
Furnault
Furnoh
Furneaus
Furneax
Related arms
Furneaulxvariant spelling
Furneuxvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief), Parochieregisters van het Hertogdom Brabant
Wauters, Alphonse, Histoire des environs de Bruxelles, 1855
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
