Fairwal History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Fairwal surname lived near a pleasant spring or stream. The name Fairwal is derived from two Old English elements: fæger, which means fair or beautiful; and well, which was the name for a spring. There is a parish Farewell in Staffordshire, two miles from Lichfield.

Early Origins of the Fairwal family

The surname Fairwal was first found in Staffordshire at Farewell, a parish, in the union of Lichfield, S. division of the hundred of Offlow. The earliest record of the place was in 1200 when it was listed as Fagerwell. 1

Early History of the Fairwal family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fairwal research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fairwal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fairwal 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 Fairwal 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. The variations of the name Fairwal include: Farewell, Farwell, Fairwell and others.

Early Notables of the Fairwal family

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

Migration of the Fairwal family

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 Fairwal or a variant listed above: James Farewell settled in Barbados in 1680 with his wife and servants.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)