Show ContentsFithye History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Fithye

What does the name Fithye mean?

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 Fithye family

The surname Fithye 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 Fithye family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fithye 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 Fithye History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fithye Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Fitzhugh, Fitchew, Fitchie, Fithie, Fithye and others.

Early Notables of the Fithye 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 Fithye Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fithye family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Fithye or a variant listed above: Henry Fitzhugh, who settled in Maryland in 1670; William Fitzhugh, who settled in Virginia in 1670; Robert Fitzhugh, who immigrated to Boston in 1696.



  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)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook