The flag is the banner of arms attributed to Edwin, ruler of the former kingdom of Tegeingl that covered much of the territory of Flintshire.

Those arms bore a black engrailed fleury cross (i.e. a cross capped with fleur-de-lis ends and scalloped edges) on a white field between four choughs, a bird once likely to have been widespread in the area, in black and red.

These arms, in a slightly amended form, had been used by the former Flintshire County Council.

The flag simplifies the design but retains much of the basic symbolism and essential charges of the original arms in a way more suitable for use as a flag.

[3] Mark Tami, MP for Alyn and Deeside complimented the flag's "strong design".