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![Show Contents]() Foys History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Early Origins of the Foys familyThe surname Foys was first found in Suffolk where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. However, for two centuries after the Battle of Hastings many adventurer knights crossed the Channel and claimed domains in England and Scotland. This family name was found in Suffolk where John LeFoie held domains in 1212. This rare name is derived from St.Foy. Early History of the Foys familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Foys research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1327, 1359 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Foys History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Foys Spelling VariationsAnglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Foy, St.Foy, LeFoy, DelaFoy, DeFoy, LeFoye, Foie and others. Early Notables of the Foys familyMore information is included under the topic Early Foys Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Foys family to Ireland
Some of the Foys family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 99 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Foys familyFor many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Foys or a variant listed above were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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England
France-Alt
Ireland
Scotland
