Fag History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Fag surname is thought to come from Middle English word "fagge," in turn from the Old English "facg," which referred to a type of flat fish, and perhaps also a flat loaf; thus it has been suggested that the name may have been occupational name for a fish seller or a baker. 1

Early Origins of the Fag family

The surname Fag was first found in Kent where "this Kentish family were long connected with the parish of Rye, co. Sussex, and perhaps derived their name from lands there, still called Fagg farm. Feg occurs in Domesday [Book]." 2

The Feet of Fines for Kent listed Daniel and William Fagg as holding estates there in 1202. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Jananna Fag, Somerset and Peter Fag, Oxfordshire. 3

Early History of the Fag family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fag research. Another 163 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1286, 1627, 1645, 1649, 1653, 1673, 1679, 1681, 1690, 1695, 1701, 1702, 1708, 1710, 1715 and 1736 are included under the topic Early Fag History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fag Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Fag are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Fag include: Fagg, Fag, Fagge, Vagg, Vag, Vagge and others.

Early Notables of the Fag family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sir John Fagg, 1st Baronet (1627-1701), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Rye (1645 to 1653), he purchased the manor of Wiston, West Sussex in 1649. He was the son of John Fagg of Rye, S...

Fag migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Fag or a variant listed above:

Fag Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johann Peter Fag, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710 4

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)