Show ContentsFann History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Fann was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Fann family lived in East Lothian, Scotland. Their name, however, is a reference to Vaux or Vallibus, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

Early Origins of the Fann family

The surname Fann was first found in East Lothian, where they were directly descended from the great baronial family of De Vaux, or De Vallibus, and still had a castle of this name in Normandy until the year 1080. They possessed Dalston and Gilliesland in Cumberland, and the barony of Dirletoun in East Lothian.

Early History of the Fann family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fann research. Another 170 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1244, 1255, 1306, 1437, 1490, 1515, 1516, 1538 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Fann History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fann Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Vance, Vans, Vaux, de Vallibus and others.

Early Notables of the Fann family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Vaus or Vascus (1490?-1538?), Scottish Latinist, the earliest Scottish writer on grammar, born in Aberdeen. "He appears to have studied at Paris, and to have returned to his...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fann Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fann Ranking

In the United States, the name Fann is the 8,143rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]

Ireland Migration of the Fann family to Ireland

Some of the Fann family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Fann migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fann Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Fann, who landed in Virginia in 1635 [2]
  • Charles Fann, who settled in Maryland in 1663
  • Henry Fann, who landed in Maryland in 1668 [2]
  • Thomas Fann, who landed in Maryland in 1676 [2]
Fann Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Fann was naturalized in Pennsylvania in 1841

Australia Fann migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Fann Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Fann, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years for coining, transported aboard the "Caledonia" on 5th July 1820, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Fann (post 1700) +

  • Sandra Fann, well-known Canadian harpist


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia


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