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![Show Contents]() Folstaffe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
Early Origins of the Folstaffe familyThe surname Folstaffe was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Stamford named Fastolf who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. It is said that Shakespeare based his Sir John Falstaff on this person but we have been unable to find this person listed in the tenants of Stamford, although he may have held one of the 4 churches. Early History of the Folstaffe familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Folstaffe research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1202 is included under the topic Early Folstaffe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Folstaffe Spelling VariationsBefore the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Folstaffe family name include Falstaff, Folstofe, Falstolfe, Folstaff and others. Early Notables of the Folstaffe familyMore information is included under the topic Early Folstaffe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Folstaffe familyTo escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Folstaffe family to immigrate North America: settlers were recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled on the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Boston, to Virginia, to Florida, and to the islands..
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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