| Figge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms Etymology of FiggeWhat does the name Figge mean? The name Figge is "a Norman-French form of the Old French word "ficheis" meaning "faithful." 1. Early Origins of the Figge familyThe surname Figge was first found in London, England where Thomas le Fykes, Fykeis was recorded in 1281. Later in Kent, the Assize Rolls listed William Fykays in 1317. 1 A scan through early Sussex records revealed John le Figge listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 and later in London, Simon Figge was recorded in 1381. 1 In Ireland, the name "is found in English records as early as the thirteenth century. but does not appear to have been established in mediaeval Ireland. In this country it is of comparatively recent introduction being chiefly associated with Dublin, where it has been prominent in the publishing and bookselling business since 1809. Darrell Figges (1882-1925), the author who was active in the revolutionary movement from 1914, was born in Dublin." 2 Early History of the Figge familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Figge research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1102, 1139, 1234, 1273, 1391, 1429, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1533, 1600, 1645, 1660, 1695, 1719, 1730, 1734 and 1992 are included under the topic Early Figge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Figge Spelling VariationsSound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Figge family name include Figg, Figgiss, Figgess, Figgins, Figgin, Figges, Figgess, Figgs, Fig, Fyge, Fygg, Fygge, Ficke, Feek and many more. Early Notables of the Figge familyJames Figg (1695-1734), English bare-knuckle boxer, generally agreed first English bare-knuckle boxing champion, reigning from 1719 to 1730 or 1734, inducted into the International Boxing Hall... Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Figge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Figge family to IrelandSome of the Figge family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 38 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Figge migration to the United States | + |
For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Figge surname or a spelling variation of the name include:
Figge Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Lorenz Figge, aged 21, who arrived in Missouri in 1845 3
| Contemporary Notables of the name Figge (post 1700) | + |
- Elizabeth Kahl Figge, American philanthropist who through her eponymous foundation donated 13 million towards the 47 million construction of the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa
- Jennifer Figge (b. 1952), American marathon swimmer who attempted to swim from the Cape Verde Islands off Africa to Chacachacare Island in Trinidad (2,160 miles)
- Alex Figge (b. 1981), American race car driver from Davenport, Iowa
- Erika Figge (b. 1985), American gold and silver medalist water polo player
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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