Fowler
Coat of Arms ~ Family Crests
~ Family Surname Origin ~
Origin of Fowler
A Saxon
Chief, fond of the chase, and being a daring hunter, was called Fowler. This Fowler,
accompanied by numerous band of retainers and
followers, went to
SAPIENS QUI VIGILAT
Burke's
Commoners Vol. II, p. 385, edition of 1834
The Crusade is shown by the crosses
on the chevron. Royal service is shown by the chevron. The lions are "on
guard" and protection to the person of the king is indicated by the
coronet on the owl.
The Fowler coat bears a helmet of silver,
representing nobility; above the helmet is a wreath - symbol of chivalry, the
emblem presented the favorite knight by a lady during a tournament. The silver flourishings behind the helmet represent the cap of honor, while the blue flourishings
represent the mantle flowing from the helmet for protection ............ above
the wreath is an owl.
English
Baronetage by Thomas Wotton, printed in 1741, Vol.
LV, pp. 102-103
This family was of great antiguity before the reign of King Richard I, when in that
warlike prince's expedition to the Holy Land, Richard Fowler of Foxley, in the County of Bucks, serving as a commanding
officer, in the wars, in which that prince was engaged against the Infidels,
together with other Chieftain princes,....1190, maintained, at his own expense,
a certain number of British bowmen, all his own tenants, to serve likewise in
the said wars. ; And, at the siege of Ptolomais,
(otherwise called Acon) upon an attempt of the
Infidels, to surprise the Christian camp in the night-time, he thro' his extraordinary
care and vigilance, happily prevented them; his royal master, therefore, in
honor to such eminent service, knighted him in the field, and caused his then
crest, which was the hand and the lure, to be changed to the vigilant owl.
Burke adds to the above account that Richard
Fowler was disturbed by an owl, he investigated, and found a sentry had been
silently slain near the tent of the king, he aroused the camp in time to save
the life of the king, and meet the surprise attack of the enemy.
Burke's Commoners Vol. II, p.
385, edition of 1834
The ancient
MOTTO was
"They can because they think they can,"
POSSUNT QUIA POSSE VIDENTUR
was changed to:
"He is wise who watches."
SAPIENS QUI VIGILAT
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© Deborah Lunsford Yates, 2000 - 2002
Last Updated Tuesday, May 07, 2002, 8:49:03 PM CST