First History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the First family

The surname First was first found in Devonshire 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 where they held a family seat at Bekington.

Early History of the First family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our First research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1080, 1091, 1163, 1399, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1538 and 1600 are included under the topic Early First History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

First Spelling Variations

First has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name First have been found, including Fursland, Furseland, Firseland, Furzeland, Vurseland, Vursland, Firstland, Firsland, Firseland, Firzeland, Firseland, Furslane, Furzelane, Firzelane, Firselane, Versland, Verseland, Verslane, Virzelane and many more.

Early Notables of the First family

More information is included under the topic Early First Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

First migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Firsts to arrive on North American shores:

First Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jacob First, who landed in Maryland in 1845 1
John First, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 1
Miss E First, 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)