The earliest origins of the family name Fairbayrne date back to the
Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name given to a person with attractive, youthful looks, or someone who was noted as having been a beautiful child. The surname Fairbayrne is derived from the Old English words fair, which means lovely, and bearn, which means child. However, the name Fairbayrne may also be a
local surname applied to someone from the settlement of Fairbourne in
Kent or Fairburn in the West Riding of
Yorkshire. In this case, Fairbayrne belongs to the large category of
Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.
Early Origins of the Fairbayrne family
The surname Fairbayrne was first found in North
Yorkshire at Fairburn, a small village and civil parish in the Selby district that dates back to before the
Domesday Book when it was listed as Fareburne c. 1030. A few years later in 1086, the
Domesday Book lists the placename as Fareburne
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) and literally meant "stream where ferns grow," having derived from the Old English fearn + burna.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Early History of the Fairbayrne family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fairbayrne research.
Another 331 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1297, 1327, 1644 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Fairbayrne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Fairbayrne Spelling Variations
Before English spelling was standardized a few
hundred years ago,
spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Fairbayrne include Fairbairn, Fairbairns, Fairbarn, Fairborn, Fairborne and many more.
Early Notables of the Fairbayrne family (pre 1700)
Another 22 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fairbayrne Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Fairbayrne family to the New World and Oceana
A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck
England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in
England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Robert Fairbarn landed in 1763. William Fairbarn joined many of his fellow Fairbarns when he purchased land in Philadelphia in 1835.
The Fairbayrne 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: Nec cede arduis
Motto Translation: Not high yield