fesse engrailed

[bean]

Does it have any significance or meaning of it's own or imply anything when used?
Asking as there is one in an ancestors arms as shown in my avatar.

[Flattybasher9]

Looking at heraldic design for the first time in ages, the "engrailing on the two red fesses" would seem just to be for design puropses.

http://www.heraldsnet.org/saitou/parker/Jpglossf.htm

http://www.heraldsnet.org/saitou/parker/Jpglosse.htm

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01e95/

Regards

Malky

[davidbappleton]

Regarding the significance or meaning of any particular charge (or colour) in a coat of arms, the MFAQ (Most Frequently Asked Questions) at Francois Velde's "Heraldica" website notes:

"The short answer is that there are no systematic meanings assigned to the
charges and tinctures in arms.  There is no way to look at a set of arms
and decypher the original designer's intended symbolism."

If you'd like more detail, you can read the entire MFAQ at http://www.heraldica.org/faqs/mfaq

David

[bean]

Thanks both - I'll have a good read of the sites you suggested.

[billcat]

In Fosters 1902 Feudal Coat of Arms he says that for really old (much before College of Arms and quartering times) arms there is a recurring logic that when two families merged their wealth the subsequent arms reflect parts of both families arms.

If the family that owned your lion/fesse was old perhaps they were descended from one family with just the lion and another with the fesse?

If the family was much later ignore the above though...

[bean]

That's interesting - may be more digging is required as I'm not sure how far back that side goes, there are certainly links back to 14/1500's

[billcat]

Pownall of Cheshire are recorded as using "argent a lion rampant sable" as are one of the Newton families:-

http://cheshire-heraldry.org.uk/vale_royal/VRE19.html

Any connections to your family in marriage of area?