Show ContentsFewster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Fewster Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Fewster

What does the name Fewster mean?

The Fewster surname was no doubt taken on by someone who either lived in or near a forest, or perhaps worked in the forest. The Middle English word "forest" referred specifically to an area of woodland reserved by law as hunting grounds for the king or his nobles. No doubt, as a surname, Fewster would have appeared independently in various parts of Britain.

One source claims the name as Norman, descended from Forez, Normandy. There Guerard and Nicholas de Foresta of Normandy were found in 1198 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae). The source continues to note that William Forist held lands in Hampshire in the Domesday Book of 1086. 1 2

Early Origins of the Fewster family

The surname Fewster was first found in Northumberland, but early records include John Forester, listed in the Pipe Rolls of Surrey of 1183, and Richard le Forester listed in the Feet of Fines of Essex in 1240. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Petrus Forestarius, Jordan le Forester; and Nicholas le Forester. 4 There was also a Shropshire family of this name, who held custody of part of the Wrekin forest. An early record of this family lists a Hugh Forester as a witness 1187. 3

As a trade name, the family were traditional "officers made by letters patent under the great seal, and sworn to preserve vert and venison in the forest; and to attend upon the wild beasts within his bailiwick; to attach offenders there either in Vert or Venison, and to preserve the same at the courts of the Forest." 5

Early History of the Fewster family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fewster research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1471, 1538, 1623, 1652, 1655, 1679, 1690, 1698, 1718, 1758, 1767 and 1828 are included under the topic Early Fewster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fewster Spelling Variations

The name Fewster, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Forrester, Forester, Forrest, Forster, Foster, Forrestor and many more.

Early Notables of the Fewster family

John Forrest (1471-1538), English friar and martyr, Confessor to Queen Catherine of Aragon, he was burned to death at Smithfield for "heresy" as he refused to acknowledge the King as head of the church; Francis Forester (b. 1623) was High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1652; Sir William Forester (1655-1718), of Dothill in Wellington, Shropshire, Member of Parliament for the borough constituency of Wenlock...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fewster Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fewster family to Ireland

Some of the Fewster family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fewster migration to Australia +

Fewster Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Edwin Fewster, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eliza" in 1840 6
  • Esther Fewster, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eliza" in 1840 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Fewster (post 1700) +

  • Wilson Lloyd Fewster (1926-2014), American college lacrosse player and college football, college lacrosse, college soccer, and wrestling coach
  • Chick Fewster (1895-1945), American Major League Baseball second baseman who played eleven seasons from 1917 and 1927
  • Dr. John Fewster (1738-1824), British surgeon and apothecary who helped in the discovery of the smallpox vaccine by identifying people with a prior infection with cowpox rendered them immune to smallpox
  • Rachel Fewster, British and New Zealand environmental statistician and statistical ecologist known for her work on wildlife population size
  • George Fewster (1896-1970), Australian politician, Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Essendon
  • Derek Fewster (b. 1962), Swedish-speaking Finnish historian
  • Brendon Fewster (b. 1974), Australian rules footballer who played from 1996 to 2002
  • Bradley Fewster (b. 1996), British footballer who plays as a striker for Redcar Athletic FC
  • Artie Fewster (1894-1960), Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in 1919
  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ELIZA 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Eliza.htm

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