Lynch and Fauntleroy Family Crests

Pictured above are two paintings of the Lynch and Fauntleroy family crests which were found in the museum’s collections. Family crests have been around for a very long time, and are great resources for tracking the story of one’s family. The Fauntleroy family first gained notoriety after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The banner at the bottom of the crest pictured below translates roughly as “King’s Children”. One of the widely acknowledged mottos of the Fauntleroy family is “Defender of the King.” It seems that the Fauntleroy family first became notable in England after the infamous Battle of Hastings. As for the Lynch family crest pictured below, the motto banner at the bottom translates to “Always Faithful.” The Lynch family has its origins in Ireland, specifically Galway. The two traditional offshoots of the Lynch family are believed to be Irish and Anglo- Norman (established after the conquest in 1066). It is interesting to note that both the Fauntleroy and Lynch families are documented as being active in the Norman Conquest of 1066. Perhaps the ancestors of the Virginia Lynch’s and Fauntleroy’s once fought on the same battlefield in 1066.