Fetyplace History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Fetyplace is of local origin originally found in Oxfordshire and Nottinghamshire. The original Fettiplace is said to have been Gentleman-usher to William the Conqueror.

Early Origins of the Fetyplace family

The surname Fetyplace was first found in Oxfordshire where one of the earliest records was of Adam Feteplace, Mayor of Oxford in 1245. A Walter Feteplece was also recorded around the same time in that area. Sir Phillip Fettiplace (1220-1302), purchased the manor of North Denchworth from Ralph de Cameys in 1263.

Thomas Faiteplace was listed in Oxfordshire in 1210 and Robert Fetesplace was listed in the Assize Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1227. "A especially Oxford name, borne by a 14th century mayor." 1

The name was also most numerous in Swinbrook, where the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Swinbrook, held by Geoffrey who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary in Swinbrook dates from about 1200 and is noted for its 17th century Fettiplace monuments.

There is a distinct branch of the family found in Nottinghamshire from very early times. Another branch of the family was found at Besselsliegh in Berkshire. "It takes its name from the ancient family of Bessels, an heiress of which conveyed the estate by marriage to the Fettyplaces; and Sir Edmund Fettyplace sold it, about 1620, to Wm. Lenthall, master of the rolls, and speaker of the house of commons in the Long parliament." 2

Of particular interest is Elinor Fettiplace (née Poole) (c. 1570-c. 1647.) She wrote Elinor Fettiplace's Receipt Book in 1604. Hilary Spurling, the wife of a descendant of Fettiplace first published the book in 1986 and today it gives an interesting and quaint compilation of recipes that were typical of the Elizabethan household life.

Early History of the Fetyplace family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fetyplace research. Another 193 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1095, 1273, 1397, 1412, 1442, 1480, 1495, 1504, 1539, 1549, 1556, 1557, 1568, 1575, 1577, 1583, 1601, 1603, 1623, 1626, 1629, 1640, 1644, 1654, 1658, 1661, 1662, 1668, 1672, 1707, 1713, 1725 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Fetyplace History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fetyplace Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Fettiplace, Fetiplace, Feteplace, Ffetiplace, Phetiplace, Phetteplace and many more.

Early Notables of the Fetyplace family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Edward Fettiplace (c. 1495-1549), Justice of the Peace for Berks and in 1539, he was one of those appointed to receive Her Grace, Anne of Cleves, on her arrival in England from Dusseldorf; Sir John Fettiplace, Sheriff of Berkshire (1568-1577); and John Fettiplace (1583-1658), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Berkshire (1626-1629), Member of Parliament for Berkshire (1640-1644), supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War. The Fettiplace Baronetcy, of Childrey in the...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fetyplace Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fetyplace family

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Fetyplace name or one of its variants: Gyles Fettyplace, who arrived in Virginia in 1663; and Thomas Fettplace who arrived in Maryland in 1653.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.