Show ContentsFaldowe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

When the ancestors of the Faldowe family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Staffordshire at Fauld, a township, in the parish of Hanbury, union of Burton-upon-Trent. 1

The name is generally thought to have been an occupational name for 'the falder,' a herd, a shepherd, one who tended cattle; from the Anglo-Saxon word, afold. Despite the above Staffordshire entry, the name is a "well-known North-English surname, especially familiar to Cumberland." 2

Early Origins of the Faldowe family

The surname Faldowe was first found in Staffordshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Fauld. Conjecturally they are descended from Hubert and Robert of Fauld, father and son Norman nobles, who held their lands at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book survey in 1086 from Henry de Ferrers. 3

A very rare surname, we did find one entry for the variant Fold, that being: John atte Fold in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. 4

Early History of the Faldowe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Faldowe research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1438, 1536, 1633, 1673, 1684, 1690 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Faldowe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Faldowe Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Faldowe has been recorded under many different variations, including Fauld, Faulds, Faldow, Faldo, Faldoe, Fauldo, Fauldow, Fauldhouse, Falder, Fauls, Fawles and many more.

Early Notables of the Faldowe family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Faldo (1633-1690), an English nonconformist minister and controversialist. He "is said to have been educated at Cambridge, and to have been a chaplain in the army, so that he held no benefice...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Faldowe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Faldowe family

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Faldowes were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: Bartholomew Faldoe who settled in Massachusetts in 1635.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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