Show ContentsFaville History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Faville was derived from the Old French word "fauvel" which means "follow-colored, tawny" and as such was a nickname.

Early Origins of the Faville family

The surname Faville was first found in Yorkshire where Eudo Faluel was listed in the Seals of Yorkshire 1160-76. A few years later, Rannulf fauuel was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Herefordshire in 1195. 1

Early History of the Faville family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Faville research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Faville History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Faville Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Favell, Vavell, Favel, Favill, Favall and others.

Early Notables of the Faville family

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

Migration of the Faville family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Faville or a variant listed above: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..


Contemporary Notables of the name Faville (post 1700) +

  • Oran Faville (1817-1872), American politician, Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, 1858-60 2
  • Marge Faville, American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for Michigan, 2012 2
  • Frederick F. Faville (1865-1954), American Republican politician, Buena Vista County Attorney, 1895-99; U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, 1907-13; Justice of Iowa State Supreme Court, 1921-32 2


The Faville 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: En dieu ma foi
Motto Translation: My faith is in God.


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, March 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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