Show ContentsFaussett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Faussett

What does the name Faussett mean?

The name Faussett is derived from an ancient word meaning "fox on a hillside." Fa’side Castle, sometimes known as Fawside, Falside, Ffauside, Fauxside, or Fawsyde, is a 14th century Keep located in East Lothian, approximately 2 miles southwest of Tranent, and two miles southeast of Musselburgh. The castle dates to 1189, when the monks of Newbattle Abbey granted land to Saer de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester to build the castle on the site. Today the privately held castle still stands and includes a Bed and Breakfast for the weary traveler.

Early Origins of the Faussett family

The surname Faussett was first found in East Lothian, at Fawsyde where one of the first records of the name was Aedmundus de Fayeside who witnessed the grant of Tranent church to Holyrood Abbey be Thos filius Swani (c. 1150.) More than a century later, Alan de Fausyde witnessed a grant by Peter de Grame to the Hospital of Soltre before 1238.

Early History of the Faussett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Faussett research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1238, 1296, 1332, 1398, 1548, 1553, 1583, 1630, 1789, 1824, 1840, 1845 and 1852 are included under the topic Early Faussett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Faussett Spelling Variations

During the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Faussett occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Fawcett, Fawsyde, Faucett, Fallcett, Fawcitt, Faucitt, Fawside and many more.

Early Notables of the Faussett family

Edward Forsett (1553?-1630?), English political writer who obtained from Elizabeth in 1583 a twenty-one years' lease of the manor of Tyburn, Middlesex, at the annual rent of 16l. 11s. 8d. "As a justice of peace he showed himself very active in the examination of those concerned in the Gunpowder plot, and he occasionally took charge of the Tower during the absence of the lieutenant, Sir William Waad. " 1 John Fawcett, born at Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire, in 1789, was originally a shoemaker, but abandoned that calling to follow the profession of music in his native town. He composed three sets of Psalm and...
Another 213 words (15 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Faussett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Faussett family to Ireland

Some of the Faussett family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Faussett family

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of illness and the elements, were buried at sea. In North America, early immigrants bearing the family name Faussett, or a spelling variation of the surname include: John Fawcett who arrived in Nova Scotia with his wife Jane in 1774. Adam Fawcett had already brought the name to the colonies when he purchased land in Virginia in 1654. By the mid-1800'.


Contemporary Notables of the name Faussett (post 1700) +

  • H. W. Faussett, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Wyoming State House of Representatives from Washakie County, 1965 2
  • Bryan Faussett (1720-1776), English antiquary, born on 30 Oct. 1720 at Heppington, near Canterbury, the eldest of the thirteen children of Bryan Faussett of Staplehurst, Kent 3
  • Thomas Godfrey "T.G." Faussett (1829-1877), English antiquary, born at Oxford in 1829, younger son of the Rev. Godfrey Faussett, D.D., Canon of Christ Church 4


  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, March 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  3. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020


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