“In Deo Spes Mea”
“In God Is My Hope”, the Fanning family Motto.
“The surname FANNING was brought to Ireland by settlers in the wake of the Anglo-Norman Conquest to their principle settlement in County Tipperary. They dispersed south-east as far as County Wexford and west to County Limerick.”
“The above arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884. Registered at Ballingarry and Fanning Town, County Tipperary.”
“Originally the coat of arms identified the wearer, either in battle or in tournments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield, and embroidered on his surcoat, the draped and flowing garmwnt worn over the aremour. ” Source: Coat of Arms Store
Walter Frederic Brooks writes in “The History of the Fanning Family “vol 1, 1905 that the Arms of Fanning are registered in the Ulsters Office, Dublin, 1775 Ped. XI, fol.269 as follows: A Chevron Gules, between three doves proper, for Crest, on a wreath of the colours a cherub Proper. A chevron is an inverted V and Gules is the colour red and proper is a natural colour.
Some famous Fannings : Edmund Fanning who settled in New London, Conneticut in 1653; Andrew Fanning who settled in New England in 1678; John Fanning who settled in Boston Mass. 1766; David Fanning (died 1825) was a Loyalist in the American Revolution, Edmund Fanning (1769-1841) an American Trader, explorer of the South Seas, discovered Fanning Island in the Pacific; Nathaniel Fanning (1755-1804) as American navel officer and war hero; Bernard Fanning, Australian muscician and lead singer of Powderfinger; Mick Fanning, Australian world champion surfer; Dakota Fanning-American actor; Fred Fanning, champion Australian Rules Footballer for Melbourne Football Club.
The above representation of the Fanning Coat of Arms is from the House of Names.