Filene History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Filene family

The surname Filene was first found in Dorset shire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Norman influence of English history prevailed after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience dominated. The family name was first referenced in the 12th century when they held estates in that shire.

Early History of the Filene family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Filene research. Another 205 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1046, 1083, 1092, 1130, 1137, 1153, 1166, 1432, 1451, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1541, 1542 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Filene History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Filene Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Filiol, Filliol, Fillon, Filon, Filone, Fillioll, Filleul, Filliel, Fileul and many more.

Early Notables of the Filene family

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

Migration of the Filene family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Filene 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 Filene (post 1700) +

Catherine Filene Shouse (1896-1994), American researcher, philanthropist and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom