The Fingerprint Society started life as "The National Society of Fingerprint Officers" in 1974, but due to international interest was transformed into "The Fingerprint Society" a year later.

The aim of The Society is:

‘To advance the study and application of fingerprint
evidence and to facilitate the co-operation among
persons interested in this field of personal identification’

The motto of The Society is 'Quaerite et invenietis’, which is latin for 'Seek and ye shall find'. This motto was adopted following a competition, won by Jenifer Lindsay of Thames Valley.

The logo, which was also created as part of a competition (won by Mr M. Ridgeman from West Midlands), is a symmetrical shape based on the letter F, P and S for FingerPrint Society.