Fernan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Portugal
Spain

The distinguished Spanish surname Fernan is a proud sign of a rich and ancient heritage. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Spain were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. Spanish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century; the most common patronymic suffix being "ez." The Fernan name is derived from the Spanish elements "faro," meaning "journey" and "nano, " meaning "brave."

Early Origins of the Fernan family

The surname Fernan was first found in Castile, where the name originated in Visigothic times. Much of the popularity of this name and its cognates is due to King Ferdinand III of Castile and Leon (1198-1252) who, after leading much of the reconquest of Christian Spain from the Moors, was then canonized.

Early History of the Fernan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fernan research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1536, 1576, 1604, 1636 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Fernan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fernan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Fernández, Fernandez, Ferranz, Ferrándiz, Ferrandiz, Ferrández, Ferrandez, Fernandeiz, Federnandiz, Fredenandiz, Fredinandoz, Frenandoz, Fredelandez, Fredernandiz, Fernayz and many more.

Early Notables of the Fernan family

Prominent among members of the family

was Asur Fernández, count of Monzon in the tenth century. Juan Fernández de Heredia, a fourteenth century Aragonese nobleman, was Grand Master of the Knights Hospitallers of Rhodes. Gonzalo Fernández...

Fernan migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fernan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Fernan, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1861 1

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)