Show ContentsFettyplace History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Fettyplace is of local origin originally found in Oxfordshire and Nottinghamshire. The original Fettiplace is said to have been Gentleman-usher to William the Conqueror.

Early Origins of the Fettyplace family

The surname Fettyplace was first found in Oxfordshire where one of the earliest records was of Adam Feteplace, Mayor of Oxford in 1245. A Walter Feteplece was also recorded around the same time in that area. Sir Phillip Fettiplace (1220-1302), purchased the manor of North Denchworth from Ralph de Cameys in 1263.

Thomas Faiteplace was listed in Oxfordshire in 1210 and Robert Fetesplace was listed in the Assize Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1227. "A especially Oxford name, borne by a 14th century mayor." 1

The name was also most numerous in Swinbrook, where the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Swinbrook, held by Geoffrey who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary in Swinbrook dates from about 1200 and is noted for its 17th century Fettiplace monuments.

There is a distinct branch of the family found in Nottinghamshire from very early times. Another branch of the family was found at Besselsliegh in Berkshire. "It takes its name from the ancient family of Bessels, an heiress of which conveyed the estate by marriage to the Fettyplaces; and Sir Edmund Fettyplace sold it, about 1620, to Wm. Lenthall, master of the rolls, and speaker of the house of commons in the Long parliament." 2

Of particular interest is Elinor Fettiplace (née Poole) (c. 1570-c. 1647.) She wrote Elinor Fettiplace's Receipt Book in 1604. Hilary Spurling, the wife of a descendant of Fettiplace first published the book in 1986 and today it gives an interesting and quaint compilation of recipes that were typical of the Elizabethan household life.

Early History of the Fettyplace family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fettyplace research. Another 193 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1095, 1273, 1397, 1412, 1442, 1480, 1495, 1504, 1539, 1549, 1556, 1557, 1568, 1575, 1577, 1583, 1601, 1603, 1623, 1626, 1629, 1640, 1644, 1654, 1658, 1661, 1662, 1668, 1672, 1707, 1713, 1725 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Fettyplace History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fettyplace Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Fettyplace have been found, including Fettiplace, Fetiplace, Feteplace, Ffetiplace, Phetiplace, Phetteplace and many more.

Early Notables of the Fettyplace family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Edward Fettiplace (c. 1495-1549), Justice of the Peace for Berks and in 1539, he was one of those appointed to receive Her Grace, Anne of Cleves, on her arrival in England from Dusseldorf; Sir John Fettiplace, Sheriff of Berkshire (1568-1577); and John Fettiplace (1583-1658), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Berkshire (1626-1629), Member of Parliament for Berkshire (1640-1644), supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War. The Fettiplace Baronetcy, of Childrey in the...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fettyplace Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Fettyplace migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Fettyplace were among those contributors:

Fettyplace Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Gyles Fettyplace, who landed in Virginia in 1663 3


  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.
  3. 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)


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