Few History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe origins of the distinguished surname Few are somewhat unclear. The name is of English origin, and is thought to be derived from the Old English "feawe," meaning "small." Early Origins of the Few familyThe surname Few was first found in Wiltshire, where the ancestral home of the family is thought to be located. Bearers of Few have been prominent in this county for centuries; their history in this region stretches back to the years following the Norman Conquest of 1066. Early History of the Few familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Few research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1748, 1789, 1828 and 1845 are included under the topic Early Few History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Few Spelling VariationsUntil quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Few include Few, Fewe and others. Early Notables of the Few familyDistinguished members of the family include
Few RankingIn the United States, the name Few is the 11,873rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled 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 ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Few or a variant listed above: Few Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Few Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
|