Map of France showing where the Fye arms are recorded
The Fye 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 France when the Fye 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 Fye Family in France
The family name Fye finds its roots in the historical region of Normandy, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Normandy was a hub of agricultural activity and maritime trade, which shaped the daily lives of those living in the area. The name likely evolved as a regional variation of local descriptive terms or place names common to the French countryside. Families in this part of France often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where surnames were passed down to identify lineage and property ownership. As the seventeenth century progressed, the social structure of Normandy encouraged many individuals to maintain strong ties to their ancestral lands while contributing to the local economy through farming and craftsmanship. This early history reflects a period of stability for the family before many people from the region began to migrate to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fie
Old French term for a feudal land holding or fief.
This name
FyeA topographic name for someone who lived on or worked a feudal estate or land grant.
also spelled
Fay
Fayes
Fayee
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Gautier, Henri, Histoire de la Normandie, 1972
Le Parquier, Marcel, La vie quotidienne en Normandie au XVIIe siècle, 1965
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
