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![Show Contents]() Fossheart History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
Early Origins of the Fossheart familyThe surname Fossheart was first found in Yorkshire 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 Doncaster at Nigel and Robert Fossard who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Early History of the Fossheart familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fossheart research. Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fossheart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Fossheart Spelling VariationsSpelling 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 Fossheart have been found, including Fossard, Fossart, Fozzard, Fossie, Fossey, Fosser and others. Early Notables of the Fossheart familyMore information is included under the topic Early Fossheart Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Fossheart familyFor 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 Fossheart were among those contributors: John Fossey, who came to Jamaica in 1736; Cap Fossey, who arrived in Boston in 1767; Barbara Fossard, who arrived in Baltimore in 1833; and Magdelena Fossard, who arrived in Baltimore in 1833..
- 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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