Fitz ackerlay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the name Fitz ackerlay date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence in Fazakerley, Lancashire.

Richard Fizacre, Fishacre, Fissakre, or Fishakle (d. 1248), was an early Dominican divine, and is said to have been a native of Devonshire. "Fishacre in his old age became a Dominican; but as he and Robert Bacon continued to read divinity lectures for several years after entering the order in the schools of St. Edward, his entry can hardly be dated later than 1240." 1

Early Origins of the Fitz ackerlay family

The surname Fitz ackerlay was first found in Lancashire at Fazakerley a township, in the parish of Walton-on-the-Hill, union and hundred of West Derby, S. division of the county of Lancaster, 4 or so miles from Liverpool, The township comprises 1565 acres, all are arable as noted in 1321, Fazakerley was described as: the country is extremely flat and treeless, with nothing to recommend it to the passer-by, for it seems to be a district of straight lines, devoid of any beauty. "This place was long the residence of an ancient family of the same name, of whom Richard Fazakerley was living in the reign of Henry III.; they intermarried with the families of Walton of Walton, Blundell of Crosby, and Pemberton." 2

Some of the family held estates at early times at Walton-On-The-Hill. "In the reign of Henry IV. the Fazakerleys acquired the third part of Walton, including Spellawe or Spellow House, by marriage with an heiress of the Waltons; this estate was held by the late Colonel Fazakerley, and was sold by his family to the Earl of Derby." 2

"The variant Phizackerley is found only, I believe, in the Furness district of North Lancashire. "3

Early rolls listed Henry de Fasakerlegh in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire in 1276 and Roger Fazakerley of Fazakerley in 1394. 4

Early History of the Fitz ackerlay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fitz ackerlay research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1394, 1582, 1600, 1621, 1631, 1647, 1650, 1767 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Fitz ackerlay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fitz ackerlay Spelling Variations

Fitz ackerlay 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. Many variations of the name Fitz ackerlay have been found, including Fazackerley, Fazakerley and others.

Early Notables of the Fitz ackerlay family

Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fitz ackerlay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fitz ackerlay family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Fitz ackerlays to arrive on North American shores: James Fawzakerley who settled in New York State in 1820.

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)