A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Futter family of England.
Reg. 7825 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
flaunchesA reward for virtue and learning
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. betw. two flaunches or, as many swans in pale ppr. membered and beaked of the second”
NorfolkNorfolk, c. 1620
Where the Futter Arms Were Recorded
Norfolk
Map of England showing where the Futter arms are recorded
The Futter arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 Futter 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 Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Futter Family in England
The surname Futter is rooted in the occupational history of medieval England, where it likely served as a descriptive nickname for a person who worked as a fodderer. In this context, a fodderer was someone responsible for gathering and distributing food for livestock, a vital role in the agrarian economy of the time. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Norfolk. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Futter family were active in this region, where they integrated into the local community as landowners and farmers. Over the following generations, the family continued to play a role in the rural life of East Anglia, maintaining their connection to the land and the agricultural traditions that first defined their name.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
foder
Old English word for food or fodder for livestock.
This name
FutterAn occupational name for a person who provided fodder or food for animals.
also spelled
Futtar
Futtor
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Norfolk Record Office, Diocese of Norwich Bishop's Transcripts, 1620
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
flaunchesA reward for virtue and learning
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
flaunchesA reward for virtue and learning
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
