Fitzwarine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Fitzwarine family

The surname Fitzwarine was first found in Yorkshire where the original scion of the Fitzwarren name is somewhat of a mystery. It has been established that there was a FitzWarren at the Battle of Hastings by both Duchesne and Hollinshed. William de Warren whose father had been Ralph de Warren of St.Aubin le Cauf in Normandy, the father of FitzWarren was a powerful Norman Baron and was also present at Hastings and was granted many lordships, principally in Yorkshire. 1

It was Norman custom to disallow the use of the father's surname whilst he was still alive, hence his son must have been FitzWarren. When William de Warren died he was succeeded by William de Warren II (previously FitzWarren). William de Warren II then became Earl of Warren and Surrey and married Elizabeth (daughter of the great Earl of Vermandois. However, it must be presumed to be a second marriage and that under his previous name FitzWarren he had progeny which would initiate the name FitzWarren who would become the Baron FitzWarren who would attend Parliament in 1295 and who held estates in Dorset, Somerset, Lancaster, and Whittington, Salop.

Some of the family held estates at Wantage in Berkshire since ancient times. "This town is celebrated as the birthplace, in 849, of Alfred the Great, and as a royal residence in the time of the West Saxons. It was made a borough after the Conquest, through the influence of Fulk Fitz-Warren, who had obtained a grant of the manor from Bigod, earl-marshal of England." 2

Continuing the search in Berkshire, early records of the family were found in the parish of Lambourn. "This place formed part of the dower of Ealswitha, queen of Alfred the Great, and continued in royal demesne under Edward the Confessor; after the Conquest it was given to the baronial family of Fitzwarren, at whose instance a market and three fairs were granted to it by Henry III." 2

Interestingly, in Chittlehampton, Devon, where one branch descends through the Cobleigh family. "They succeeded by marriage a younger branch of the Fitzwarrens, who had taken the name of Brightley from their estate ; and this was brought by the heiress of the Cobleighs to a younger branch of the Giffards of Halsbury, who held it for several descents. " 3

Early History of the Fitzwarine family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fitzwarine research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1306, 1348, 1510, 1535 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Fitzwarine History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fitzwarine Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled FitzWarren, Fitzwaren, Fitzwarrine, Fitzwarine, Fitzwarin and many more.

Early Notables of the Fitzwarine family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was the Fitzwarren family of Derbyshire. Sir Fulk FitxWarine was knighted by King Edward I in 1306. Sir William was one of the founders of...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fitzwarine Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fitzwarine family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Fitzwarine or a variant listed above: bearers of the name who arrived beginning in 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..

Citations +

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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital