Ferefield is an ancient Norman name that arrived in
England after the
Norman Conquest of 1066. The Ferefield family lived in the counties of
Lancashire,
Derbyshire and Somerset.
Early Origins of the Ferefield family
The surname Ferefield was first found in
Cumberland where they held a
family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of
Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Early History of the Ferefield family
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Ferefield Spelling Variations
Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of
spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to
England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Fairfield, Farefield, Farfield and others.
Early Notables of the Ferefield family (pre 1700)
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PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Ferefield family to the New World and Oceana
Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Ferefield or a variant listed above: Daniel Fairfield who settled in Salem, Massachusetts in 1620; John Fairfield settled in Belfast, Maine, in 1822.