The Fay Family: the Fay Name and Crest
THE FAY FAMILY HOMEPAGE

THE FAY NAME AND CREST
   
Attributed to the Fays of Faybrook
         County Cavan, Ireland

Arms: Vert a dexter arm issuant from the sinister side of the shield, and a sinister arm from the dexter, vested or cuffed ar. the hands ppr. grasping a sword erect of the third, pommel and hilt of the second, the blade thrust through a dragons head couped of the last.
Crest: A dragons head couped or.
Motto: Toujours fidele.
This is a more modern version, prepared in the early 1960's by a Roman Catholic order, and sent to Mrs. George Brigham Fay, whose son Steven has contributed it for display here. To see a larger version of the crest, complete with armorial presentation, click on the image itself.
   
Read an essay on various theories
about the origin of the Fay name and family here!
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Read another discussion of the origin of the Fay name and family here!
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For more versions of the Fay Coats of Arms, click here.
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There is an excellent research source on the heraldry at:
A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry by James Parker.
   
               
There seem to be several versions of the crest shown above; below are two more. Note that these really belong to two distinct lines, the Fay and the Fahy.

I found these at Eddie Geoghegan's fascinating site Coats of Arms from Ireland and Around the World. This site not only contains arms for families, septs and counties; it has a great deal of information on heraldry and history.
   
Note that there seem to be two different animals: in the French branch, it seems to be a dragon. In the Irish branch, it is a boar. According to custom, the boar is a Celtic symbol of bravery, endurance and courage; it fights to the death.
    
   
   
The next two versions came from Ireland: The Leader in Free Resources from Ireland. According to this source: "The name Fay in Ireland is of Anglo-Norman origin, having been brought to the country by the de Fae family who settled in County Westmeath at the end of the twelfth century. The name is most commonly found in Counties Cavan, Monaghan as well as Westmeath. Fee and Fahy are sometimes used as variants....The Irish names Fahey, Fahy and Faghy are derived from the native Gaelic O'Fathaigh Sept who were based in the West of the country in County Galway. Fahysvillage still exists there today."
   
   
   
The following three versions I found at the site of James Fahy. He includes some very interesting material on the heraldic description of the coat of arms, as well as some material on the derivation of the name 'Fahy'.