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The Fenlon Clan
Coat of Arms
Coat of Arms
The Fenlon coat of arms, shown above, comprises an azure shield, a lion rampant and an "orle of thirteen bezants of the last". The azure colour (blue) is said to represent fidelity and veracity.
Crest
Crest
Clan History...
There are many variations of the Fenlon surname including Fenlin, Fenelon and Finl. The name comes from the pre 10th century Gaelic O'Fionnallain meaning the descendant of the son of the fair one. The clan orginated in Westmeath, although then moved to counties such as Dublin, Carlow and Wexford.
The Fenlon Name
The Fenlon Name
The name "Fenlon" is the anglicised version of the original Gaelic "O'Fionnallain" (shown above in a Gaelic font).
"O" appearing in front of an Irish or Scottish name generally means "of the family" or "from the family of". "Fionn" in Gaelic means fair haired. So a loose translation of "O'Fionnallain" would be "of the family of the fair haired ones".
Irish variations of the spelling I've come across are Fenelon and Fenton.
There is also a French version "F�nelon". (see below).
A Little History
A Little History
The Irish Fenlons
The Irish Fenlons
The Fenlon clan originated in County Westmeath in Ireland. There are two slightly varying accounts of their dispossession of clan lands. One view has it that they were dispossessed by rival clans about the tenth or eleventh century while another claims that it was the Norman, Hugh de Lacy, who was responsible for this towards the end of the twelfth century.In any event the clan was scattered. Descendants are found primarily in County Carlow and County Wexford.
Thomas Fenlon, came from Carlow.
The French Connection
The French Connection
There is a French name, F�nelon, that while similar to the Irish, is of Huguenot origin. The F�nelon Ch�teau (location was used in the film "Ever After") marks the origins of these F�nelons. It is located in the Dordogne valley.
One famous F�nelon, born in the F�nelon Ch�teau, was Fran�ois de Salignac de la Mothe F�nelon. He was an archbishop whose liberal ideas offended both Louis XIV and the catholic hierarchy in Rome.
There was a little migration of these Huguenot F�nelons to Ireland. Consequently, those Irish with this particular spelling and derivatives may potentially lay claim to either Irish or French heritage (or both when it suits).
Motto
Motto
The Fenlon motto has been lost to history and no longer exists. Yet, a few years ago, a man, when ordering a crest, was advised by the retailer that there was a motto, "Vi et Animo", meaning "Strength and Courage".
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