Show ContentsFearnfold History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Fearnfold family

The surname Fearnfold was first found in Lancashire where Nicholas del ffernyside was listed in rolls in 1324. A very rare name, The next entry found as much later in 1587 when Edward Fearnesyde was listed in Yorkshire. The name literally means "dweller on the ferny slope." 1

Another source postulates the place is "adjacent to Fearnhead." 2

Early History of the Fearnfold family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fearnfold research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1595 and 1615 are included under the topic Early Fearnfold History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fearnfold Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Fearnfold has been recorded under many different variations, including Fearnside, Fernside, Fernsid, Fearneside, Ferneside, Fearnsyde, Fernsyde, Farnside, Farsyde, Fernfold, Fernefold, Fearnfold, Fernwold and many more.

Early Notables of the Fearnfold family

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

Migration of the Fearnfold family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Fearnfold or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  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)


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