Fess History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the name Fess was first found in Britina. It was a name for a pheasant, derived from the Middle English word "fesaunt" 1 which in turn was derived from the Old French word "faisain." 2

Not all of the family emigrated to England, as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Radulphus le Paisant in Normandy 1180-1195. 3

Early Origins of the Fess family

The surname Fess was first found in Sussex where John Falsant was listed in the Pipe Rolls for 1166. Later, Thomas Fesaunt was found in the Assize Rolls for Warwickshire in 1221 and Richard le Feisant, le Falsant was found in Jersey in 1229. In Oxfordshire, Roger Fesant was listed at Oseney in 1241. 1

Again, in Oxfordshire the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included an entry for Robert Fesuant. The Close Rolls of Edward III included an entry for John ffesaunt. 2 (The use of "ff" was not uncommon at this time.)

Willelmus Faysand was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. In Norfolk, we found William Fesaunt was rector of Wood Rysing, Norfolk in 1380. 4

On the lighter side, one researcher noted that "In England I have heard of a Miss Partridge, who married a Mr. Pheasant, and her sister married a Mr. Partridge. There was some other bird in the family." 5 This researcher postulates "this name, as well as Fesant, Fazan, Fazon, are probably from Lepheasant, near St. Austel, [Cornwall, England.]"

Early History of the Fess family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fess research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1476, 1510, 1550, 1580, 1600, 1642, 1643, 1649 and 1767 are included under the topic Early Fess History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fess Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Fess are characterized by many spelling variations. 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. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Fess include Phessant, Pheasant, Pheassant, Phessent, Fessant, Fesant, Fessant, Vessent and many more.

Early Notables of the Fess family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Peter Phesant (1580-1649), an English judge, son of Peter Phesant, barrister-at-law, of Gray's Inn. He was born probably...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fess Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fess family to Ireland

Some of the Fess family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fess family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Fess, 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..

Contemporary Notables of the name Fess (post 1700) +

Simeon Davison Fess (1861-1936), American Republican politician, Delegate to Ohio State Constitutional Convention, 1912; U.S. Representative from Ohio, 1913-23; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 1923-35 6
Lucinda L. Fess, American politician, Mayor of Piqua, Ohio, 1992-95 6
Lahr Fess, American Republican politician, Parliamentarian, Republican National Convention, 1944 6
Fess Elisha Parker (1924-2010), American film and television actor best known for his 1950s portrayals of Davy Crockett for Walt Disney and his late 1960s portrayals of Daniel Boone

Historic Events for the Fess family +

USS Arizona

Mr. John Junior Fess, American Fireman First Class from California, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 7

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html