Fyshborn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Fyshborn family

The surname Fyshborn was first found in Durham at Fishbourne, Fishburn. New Fishbourn, is a parish, in the union of West Hampnett, hundred of Box and Stockbridge, rape of Chichester in Sussex. "The remains of a Roman bath with a tessellated pavement were discovered in 1812, near the site of the Roman road here. " 1

This parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Fiseborne. 2

However, our interest is in Fishburn, a township, in the parish and union of Sedgefield, N. E. division of Stockton ward, S. division of the county of Durham. For it is there that "the family of Fishburn, who assumed the local name, were the earliest proprietors on record of the vill and manor; and among other landowners of whom mention occurs, have been the families of Bulmer, Widdrington, and Conyers. " 1

This township date back to at least 1190, when it was known as Fisseburne. 3 Both locations derive their name from the Old English "fisc" + "burna," which combined meant "fish stream, stream where fish are caught." 3

There is another Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight that dates back to 1267 when it was known as Fisseburne.

The first record of the family was found in the aforementioned Durham when Ranulf of Fisheburn held estates in that county in 1250. 4

From this early entry, the name became widespread as in Scotland a few years later, "an Englishman of this name was Lord of Red Castle, Lunan, in 1306. Probably from Fishburn in co. Durham. " 5

The Fishburn, built at Whitby in 1780 was the largest of the three First Fleet storeships to Botany Bay, Australia.

Early History of the Fyshborn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fyshborn research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1332, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Fyshborn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fyshborn Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Fyshborn has appeared include Fishburn, Fishborn, Fishbourn, Fishbourne, Fishburne, Fishborne, Fishbyrn, Fishbyrne, Fyshborn, Fyshborne, Fyshburn and many more.

Early Notables of the Fyshborn family

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

Migration of the Fyshborn family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Fyshborn arrived in North America very early: settlers, who arrived along the eastern seaboard, from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)