Fyshburn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Fyshburn family

The surname Fyshburn 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 Fyshburn family

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

Fyshburn Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Fyshburn include Fishburn, Fishborn, Fishbourn, Fishbourne, Fishburne, Fishborne, Fishbyrn, Fishbyrne, Fyshborn, Fyshborne, Fyshburn and many more.

Early Notables of the Fyshburn family

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

Migration of the Fyshburn family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Fyshburn were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: 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)