Furren History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

The name Furren has a history dating as far back as the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 when the culture from which this family sprang arrived on British soil. It was a name for a person with gray hair, or who habitually dressed in gray. Checking further we found the name was derived from the Old French word, ferrant, which means gray (a reference to the color of iron). Another derivation suggests that the name is a corruption of Ferrant, the Old French form of Ferdinand. Time has confused the different derivations, and it is now extremely difficult to tell which is appropriate in a given situation.

Early Origins of the Furren family

The surname Furren was first found in Yorkshire where they were granted lands by William the Conqueror and appointed to the Wardenship of Skipton Castle, for the Cliffords, the chief tenants shown in the Domesday Book. They were under the protection and patronage of the ancient Earl of Albermarle.

Early History of the Furren family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Furren research. Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1651 and 1850 are included under the topic Early Furren History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Furren 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 Ferrant, Ferrand, Ferand, Ferrante and others.

Early Notables of the Furren family

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

Migration of the Furren 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 Furren or a variant listed above: Phillip Ferrant arrived in Virginia in 1654; George Ferand arrived at Providence R.I. in 1823; John Andrew Ferand arrived in Philadelphia in 1797; Benjamin arrived in New York in 1812.

The Furren Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Justus propositi tenax
Motto Translation: The just is firm of purpose.