Show ContentsFithie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Fitzhugh, meaning son of Hugh, has many variants as a result of colloquial pronunciations of the name. "The great baronial race of this name descended from a feudal chief named Bardolph, who was Lord of Ravensworth, co. York, at the period of the Conquest. The surname was not fixed until the time of Edward III., when Henry Fitz-Hugh was summoned to Parliament as Baron Fitz-Hugh." 1

Early Origins of the Fithie family

The surname Fithie was first found in Yorkshire where it is generally believed that this name claims descent from a feudal chief named Bardolph, who was Lord of Ravensworth, shortly after the Conquest.

Another early entry was found in Gloucestershire in 1344, when John Fitz Huwe was mentioned in the Calendar Post Inquisitions. 2

Early History of the Fithie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fithie research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1363, 1399, 1413, 1416, 1421, 1424, 1425, 1426, 1431, 1436, 1452, 1455, 1473, 1488, 1492, 1497, 1505, 1507 and 1609 are included under the topic Early Fithie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fithie Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Fitzhugh, Fitchew, Fitchie, Fithie, Fithye and others.

Early Notables of the Fithie family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Henry FitzHugh, 3rd Baron FitzHugh KG (1363?-1425), an English administrator and diplomat who served under Henry IV and Henry V, Chamberlain of the Household (1413-1425), Treasurer of England (1416-1421); and his son, William FitzHugh, 4th Baron FitzHugh (c. 1399-1452), an English nobleman and Member of Parliament; and Robert...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fithie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Fithie migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Fithie or a variant listed above:

Fithie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Fithie, who arrived in Alabama in 1877

Contemporary Notables of the name Fithie (post 1700) +

  • James Fithie, on record in Alabama in 1877


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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