Fairchild History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Fairchild is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was name for a beautiful child. The distinguished name Fairchild is derived from the Old English word fæger, which meant fair or beautiful, and cild, which was the word for child.
Early Origins of the Fairchild family
The surname Fairchild was first found in Oxfordshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Early History of the Fairchild family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fairchild research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1610, 1639 and 1670 are included under the topic Early Fairchild History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Fairchild Spelling Variations
Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Fairchild have been found, including Fairchild, Fairechild, Fairchilde and others.
Early Notables of the Fairchild family
Notables of the family at this time include
- Thomas Fairchild (1610-1670), who settled at Stratford, Connecticut, part of the fledgling New Haven Colony in 1639...
- He would begin the long roots of the Fairchild family in America...
Fairchild Ranking
In the United States, the name Fairchild is the 2,263rd most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1
Fairchild migration to the United States +
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become powerful new nations. Among early immigrants of the Fairchild surname to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were:
Fairchild Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Joane Fairchild, who landed in Virginia in 1618 2
- Thomas Fairchild (1610-1670), English settler to the New Haven Connecticut Colony in 1639, from him descended many of the Fairchilds of Connecticut
- Thomas Fairchild, who arrived in Connecticut in 1639 2
Fairchild Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Tho Fairchild, who landed in Virginia in 1705 2
- James Fairchild, who landed in Virginia in 1719 2
Fairchild Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- S W Fairchild, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 2
- C Fairchild, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 2
- I S Fairchild, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
- F G Fairchild, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1856 2
Fairchild migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Fairchild Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Mr. Benjamin Fairchild Sr., U.E., "Faichile, Fairchilds" (b. 1721) born in Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA from New York, USA who settled in Ancaster Township [Hamilton], Ontario c. 1784 he enlisted in 1777, married Millicent Hall "Millssa Mille" they had 8 children he died in 1794 3
- Mr. Gershom Fairchild U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 3
- Mr. James Fairchild U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 3
- Mr. James M. Fairchild U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1807 3
- Mr. Peter Fairchild U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 3
Fairchild migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Fairchild Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. Charles Fairchild, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 18th June 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
- Thomas Fairchild, aged 15, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Royal Albert"
- Eliza Fairchild, aged 15, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Royal Albert"
Contemporary Notables of the name Fairchild (post 1700) +
- John Burr Fairchild (1927-2015), American publisher and editor in chief of Women's Wear Daily from 1960 to 1996
- Alexander Graham Bell Fairchild (1906-1994), American entomologist, grandson of the scientist and inventor, Alexander Graham Bell
- Lucius Fairchild (1831-1896), American Civil War Brigadier General, 10th Governor of Wisconsin, U.S. Minister to Spain, Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic
- Henry Pratt Fairchild (1880-1956), American sociologist, co-founder of Planned Parenthood
- General Muir Stephen Fairchild (1894-1950), American Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. (1948-1950) 5
- Morgan Fairchild (b. 1950), born Patsy Ann McClenny, American Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award nominated actress, board member of the Screen Actors Guild
- David Grandison Fairchild (1869-1954), American botanist and plant explorer
- Thomas Edward Fairchild (1912-2007), American federal judge and former politician from Wisconsin
- Sherman Mills Fairchild (1896-1971), American inventor with 30 patents to his credit, founder of Fairchild Aviation, and other companies
- George Winthrop Fairchild (1854-1924), United States senator
- ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the Fairchild family +
- Mr. Rowland Fairchild, British Leading Cook (S), who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 6
The Fairchild 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: Illi nun quam cedunt
Motto Translation: They never turn out
Suggested Readings for the name Fairchild +
- Edward Eugene Fairchild, 1840-1911, and His Descendants by David Fairchild Houston.
- Ancestors and Descendants of Emma Tyas Horsfall: Largely a Chronicle of Two Families: Huxtable and Fairchild by Emma Fairchild Patterson.
Citations +
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
- Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, February 29) Muir Fairchild. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Fairchild/Muir_Stephen/USA.html
- HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html