Show ContentsFearnant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish surname Fearnant is an Anglicization of a few different Gaelic names, such as "Ó Faracháin," "Ó Fearáin," and "Ó Forannáin."

Early Origins of the Fearnant family

The surname Fearnant was first found in County Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel.

Early History of the Fearnant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fearnant research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fearnant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fearnant Spelling Variations

Names from the Middle Ages demonstrate many spelling variations. This is because the recording scribe or church official often decided as to how a person's name was spelt and in what language. Research into the name Fearnant revealed many variations, including Fearon, Feron, Feran, Farren and others.

Early Notables of the Fearnant family

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

Migration of the Fearnant family

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Fearnant family relocated to North American shores quite early: James Fearon, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1806; George, followed by Robert Fearon, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1813; George and Henry Fearon arrived in Philadelphia during the Potato Famine in 1842 and 1848.



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