Follett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Follett surname comes from the Old French word "fol," meaning "mad," or "stupid." This in turn comes from the Latin word "follis" which formerly referred to anything filled with air, but which later took on metaphorical connotation of vanity. As a surname, it was most likely a nickname for a free-spirited or eccentric person, which was later adopted as a hereditary surname.
Early Origins of the Follett family
The surname Follett was first found in Kent where they held a family seat from early times. The earliest record found of the name in Britain, is in the Domesday Book of 1086, which shows a William Folet in Kent. Follett may be descended from a family, which originated in Cotentin, in western Normandy. Of this line was Sampson Foliot, Seigneur, (or Lord) of Montfarville, near Cherbourg.
Early History of the Follett family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Follett research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1147, 1158 and 1599 are included under the topic Early Follett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Follett Spelling Variations
Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Folet, Follet, Follett and others.
Early Notables of the Follett family
More information is included under the topic Early Follett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Follett World Ranking
In the United States, the name Follett is the 9,135th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Follett is ranked the 278th most popular surname with an estimated 160 people with that name. 2
Migration of the Follett family to Ireland
Some of the Follett family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Follett migration to the United States +
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Follett or a variant listed above were:
Follett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Ed Follett, who arrived in Virginia in 1665 3
- Henry Follett, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 3
Follett Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Thomas Follett, who landed in New England in 1730 3
Follett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Bernard Follett, who landed in New York in 1855 3
Follett migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Follett Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Follett migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Follett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Robert Follett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Singapore" in 1839 5
- Mary Follett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Singapore" in 1839 5
- Ann Follett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Singapore" in 1839 5
- John Follett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Singapore" in 1839 5
- Fanny Follett, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Singapore" in 1839 5
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Follett (post 1700) +
- Timothy Follett, American politician, Presidential Elector for Vermont, 1848 6
- Oran Follett, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Genesee County, 1824 6
- M. D. Follett, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1864 6
- John Fassett Follett (1831-1902), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Ohio State House of Representatives, 1866-68; Speaker of the Ohio State House of Representatives, 1868 6
- George A. Follett, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Fernie, 1926 6
- Freeman W. Follett, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Governor of Massachusetts, 1934; Prohibition Candidate for U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 7th District, 1946 6
- Elwin B. Follett (b. 1877), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Iosco District, 1913-15 6
- Edward B. Follett, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1928 6
- David L. Follett, American politician, Justice of New York Supreme Court 6th District, 1897 6
- Charles Follett, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1864; Circuit Judge in Ohio 5th Circuit, 1885-95 6
- ... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the Follett family +
SS Southern Cross
- Mr. Fred Follett (1884-1914), Newfoundlander from Western Bay who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
The Follett 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: Quo virtus ducit scando
Motto Translation: I climb where virtue leads
Citations +
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
- 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)
- Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland Montreal: McGill's-Queen's University Press 1998. Print. (ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SINGAPORE (aka SINCAPORE) 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Singapore.gif
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
