Fieldhouse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Fieldhouse surname comes from the Middle English words "hous," and "field." As such, it was probably a topographic name for someone who lived in a house in open pasture land.

Early Origins of the Fieldhouse family

The surname Fieldhouse was first found in Yorkshire where some of the first records of the family were listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, specifically: Randulphus Feldhowses; and Johannes de Feldhouse. "This surname is derived from a geographical locality, 'at the field-house.' " 1

Alternatively the family could have originated in Staffordshire as the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list Thomas de Feldeshous and Henry de Felhouse. 2 This latter source claims the name was derived from "dweller at the house in the fields."

Early History of the Fieldhouse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fieldhouse research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Fieldhouse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fieldhouse Spelling Variations

Until 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 Fieldhouse include Fieldhouse, Feldhouse, Feldus, Feldous, Feildus, Fieldhus, Fieldhowse and many more.

Early Notables of the Fieldhouse family

Distinguished members of the family include

the Fieldhouse family of Yorkshire

Fieldhouse migration to the United States +

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 Fieldhouse or a variant listed above:

Fieldhouse Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mr. Jo Fieldhouse, aged 19, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 3

Fieldhouse Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Joseph Fieldhouse, who settled in Annapolis, Maryland in 1731
Thomas Fieldhouse, a bonded passenger, was sent to America in 1753

Fieldhouse migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fieldhouse Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

George Fieldhouse was on record in the census of Prince Edward County, Ontario in 1851
William Fieldhouse, who arrived in Ontario in 1871

Fieldhouse migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Fieldhouse Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Ann Fieldhouse, (b. 1836), aged 27, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Huntress" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st April 1863 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Fieldhouse (post 1700) +

Sir William John Fieldhouse (1858-1928), English nobleman of Austen Manor, Wooton Wawen, county Warwick
John David Elliott Fieldhouse (1928-1992), English Admiral of the Fleet in the Royal Navy, made Baron Fieldhouse in 1990
David Fieldhouse, Associate Professor of Mathematics at the University of Guelph
Simon Fieldhouse (b. 1956), Australian artist
Michael Fieldhouse Barratt (1928-2022), English television presenter and journalist, best known as the main presenter of Nationwide from 1969 to 1977

The Fieldhouse 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: Infirmis opitulare
Motto Translation: To assist the sick

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html