Show ContentsFanwright History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In ancient Scotland, Fanwright was first used as a surname by descendants of a family in the Boernician tribe. It is a name for a carpenter. The surname Fanwright is a derivative of the Old English word wyrhta, which means a worker or, in specific, a woodworker, carpenter, craftsmen of watermills or windmills. In medieval rolls, the name was often Latinized as Faber. 1

Early Origins of the Fanwright family

The surname Fanwright was first found in Berwickshire an ancient county of Scotland, presently part of the Scottish Borders Council Area, located in the eastern part of the Borders Region of Scotland, where the Fanwright family held a seat from ancient times.

Some of the earliest records include Rauf le Wrighte, burgess of Stirling, and Thomas le Whright of Blakenhall in Lanarkshire, who rendered homage to King Edward I of England in 1296, on his brief conquest of Scotland. Richard Wricht or Richard dictus Wright was listed in Aberdeen in 1342 and Malcolm Vrycht was a charter witness there in 1362. In the same year, Robert Wryhyt, a carpenter of Berwick, was employed on the roof of the chapel and hall called "la Blakhalle" of the Castle of Berwick. Richard Wryth was perpetual chaplain of St. Clement the Martyr in Dundee in 1427. 2

Early History of the Fanwright family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fanwright research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1342, 1398, 1462, 1492, 1734, 1795, 1797, 1852 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Fanwright History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fanwright Spelling Variations

Spelling rules had not yet evolved in medieval Scotland, some names dating from that era often appear many different ways. Some spelling variations of Fanwright include Wright, Right, Write, Wrighte and others.

Early Notables of the Fanwright family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was John Wrycht who was concerned in a law dispute in Aberdeen in 1398; Richard Writht who was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1492; William Wrythe with the consent and assent...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fanwright Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Fanwright family to Ireland

Some of the Fanwright family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 89 words (6 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 Fanwright family

The Boernician-Scottish people who came to North America were often nearly penniless when they arrived, and brought very few personal effects with them. Much Scottish heritage was lost in the process, and it is only this century that highland games, Clan societies, and other patriotic Scottish organizations have helped the ancestors of Scots to rediscover their national legacy. Fanwrights were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: Robert Wright, who settled in Virginia in 1623 with his wife, Richard Wright and his wife Margaret, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 with their daughter, Richard Wright, who settled in Virginia in 1636.



The Fanwright Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Meritez
Motto Translation: Deserve.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)


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