Show ContentsFirkin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Firkin

What does the name Firkin mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Firkin comes from the family having resided as dwellers at the bay or wide valley. The surname Firkin was primarily located at Chapel-le-Frith, a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, in the hundred of High Peakin in Derbyshire. 1

The town dates back to 1272, when it was known as Capella de la Firth, and meant "chapel in the sparse woodland." 2

Early Origins of the Firkin family

The surname Firkin was first found in Derbyshire at Chapel-En-Le-Frith. One of the first records of the family was Wlimar Frith who appeared in the Pipe Rolls for Kent in 1195. A few years later, John del Frith was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Norfolk in 1201 and later, William in the Frith was listed in Essex in 1276. 3

Richard de la Fryth, was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Norfolk. 4

Early History of the Firkin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Firkin research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1317, 1503, 1533, 1584, 1659, 1699, 1700 and 1941 are included under the topic Early Firkin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Firkin Spelling Variations

Firkin has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Frith, Fryth, Firkin and others.

Early Notables of the Firkin family

Notables of the family at this time include Richard le Frith; Mary Frith or Moll Cutpurse (c.1584-1659), a notorious pickpocket and fence of the English underworld; and John Frith or Fryth (1503-1533)...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Firkin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Firkin family to Ireland

Some of the Firkin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Firkin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Firkin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Firkin, (Dudley), (b. 1797), aged 25, English nail maker who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "Caledonia" in 19th June 1822, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  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. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia


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