A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Furney family of England.
Reg. 1386 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 fesse az. betw. three lions' heads erased gu”
HerefordPerristone · Hereford, c. 1758
Where the Furney Arms Were Recorded
Hereford
Map of England showing where the Furney arms are recorded
The Furney arms were recorded in Hereford, c. 1758.
Herefordshire lay on the Welsh border, where land was held in return for military service. Families there were expected to arm and to fight, and a fighting household needed a shield it could be known 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 England in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in England when the Furney 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 Hereford.
Origin & History of the Furney Family in England
The family name Furney has deep roots in the English county of Herefordshire, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1758. The name is often categorized as a locational surname, which suggests that the earliest ancestors likely took the name from a specific place or a geographical feature near their home. During the eighteenth century, families in this region were frequently involved in local agriculture and trade, contributing to the steady growth of rural communities. As the family settled into the landscape of the West Midlands, they became part of the social fabric of the county, leaving behind traces in parish registers and local administrative documents. This history reflects the broader movement of families who built their lives and livelihoods in the English countryside during the mid-eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Furnier
Old French term for a baker or one who operates an oven.
This name
FurneyAn occupational surname for a person who worked as a baker or oven operator.
also spelled
Furnie
Furnay
Related arms
Cliffordrecorded with Furney, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
