Felter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Felter family

The surname Felter was first found in Leicestershire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that county.

Early History of the Felter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Felter research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1220, 1250, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Felter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Felter 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 Felter 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 Felter include: Felter, Fealter, Fellter, Feltar and others.

Early Notables of the Felter family

Distinguished members of the family include

the Felter family of Somerset

Felter 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 Felter or a variant listed above:

Felter Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Tho Felter, who landed in Virginia in 1695 1

Felter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

I Felter, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1855 1

Citations +

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)