Show ContentsFawles History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Fawles family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. 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 Fawles family

The surname Fawles 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 Fawles family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fawles 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 Fawles History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fawles Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Fawles were recorded, including Fauld, Faulds, Faldow, Faldo, Faldoe, Fauldo, Fauldow, Fauldhouse, Falder, Fauls, Fawles and many more.

Early Notables of the Fawles 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 Fawles Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fawles family

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Fawles arrived in North America very early: 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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