Show ContentsFerabey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Ferabey family

The surname Ferabey was first found in Lincolnshire where John de Ferieby was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1212. Later, William de Feriby was listed in Berkshire in 1301 and Wylliam Feraby was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1524. 1

South Ferriby is a parish, in the union of Glandford-Brigg, N. division of the wapentake of Yarborough, parts of Lindsey, in Lincolnshire and North Ferriby is a parish, in the county of the town of Hull, union of Sculcoates, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. "A priory of Knights Templars founded here by Lord Eustace de Vesci, of Bromfleet, was, at the suppression of that order, converted into a priory of Augustine canons. " 2

Early History of the Ferabey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ferabey research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1106, 1432, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1573, 1589, 1591, 1592, 1595, 1600 and 1613 are included under the topic Early Ferabey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ferabey Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Ferabey are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Ferabey include: Fereby, Ferby, Furby, Ferbie, Furbie, Fearby, Fearbie, Fireby, Firby and many more.

Early Notables of the Ferabey family

Distinguished members of the family include George Ferebee, or Feribye, or Ferrabee (fl. 1613), an English composer from Gloucestershire. He was the son of a Gloucestershire yeoman, was born about 1573, and matriculated at Oxford 25 Oct. 1589, aged 16. " He was a chorister of Magdalen College until 1591. He was admitted B.A. 1592, licensed to be M.A. 9 July 1595, and became vicar of Bishop's Cannings, Wiltshire. Wood relates how Ferebe found and ingeniously made use of an opportunity to display his...
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ferabey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ferabey family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Ferabey 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. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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