Fitzrandolph History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Fitzrandolph family

The surname Fitzrandolph was first found in Yorkshire where one of the first records of the name was found at Middleham. "About the year 1190, a splendid castle was built here by Robert Fitz-Ranulph, in which, according to Stowe, Falconbridge, a partisan of Henry VI., was beheaded in 1471; though Speed says he was executed at Southampton. " 1

Randulf (died 1129), also named Le Meschin, Earl of Chester was the son and heir of Randulf, called 'de Brichessart' (from Briquessart, his family seat), hereditary vicomte of the Bessin in Normandy. However, his position and name was historically in dispute. "According to Dugdale, he came over with the Conqueror, and received the city of Carlisle, of which he became earl. Freeman asserted that he became earl of Cumberland; but, as Mr. Eyton rightly points out, Randulf was never 'earl,' but merely 'lord' of the district." 2

His son, Randulf, called De Gernons, Earl of Chester (d. 1153) succeeded his lands shortly before 1130. The Pipe Rolls of 1130 list he was indebted to the crown for large sums, including £1,000. which his father had died owing for the fief of his kinsman the Earl of Chester. 2

Richard FitzRalph, "in Latin Ricardus films Radulphi, often referred to simply as 'Armachanus' or 'Ardmachanus' (d. 1360), was Archbishop of Armagh and born probably in the last years of the thirteenth century at Dundalk in the county of Louth. " 2

Early History of the Fitzrandolph family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fitzrandolph research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1200, 1523, 1558, 1566, 1590, 1605, 1632, 1635, 1650, 1681, 1683, 1684, 1691, 1698, 1703, 1711, 1727, 1729, 1741, 1742 and 1749 are included under the topic Early Fitzrandolph History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fitzrandolph Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled FitzRandolph, FitzRandolf, FetzRandolff, FitzRandulf, Randolph, FitzRaulf and many more.

Early Notables of the Fitzrandolph family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Edward Randolph (died 1566), English soldier, probably a brother of Thomas Randolph (1523-1590), born at Badlesmere in Kent. "He made himself sufficiently prominent in Edward VI's time to find it necessary to flee to Paris on the accession of Mary. But, like other rebels, he soon tired of exile, and his known value as a soldier rendered the negotiations for his pardon easy." 2Thomas Randolph (1523-1590) was an English ambassador, son of Avery Randolph of Badlesmere, Kent. In 1558, Randolph was acting as an agent of the English government in Germany.Thomas Randolph (1605-1635)...
Another 186 words (13 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fitzrandolph Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fitzrandolph family to Ireland

Some of the Fitzrandolph family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fitzrandolph migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Fitzrandolph or a variant listed above:

Fitzrandolph Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mr. Edward Fitzrandolph, British settler from Nottinghamshire who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, found in Scituate 3

Fitzrandolph migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fitzrandolph Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Dr. FitzRandolph U.E. who settled in Sissiboo [Weymouth], Nova Scotia c. 1784 list on the Muster Roll at Gulliver's Hole 4
Mr. David FitzRandolph U.E. who settled in Sissiboo [Weymouth], Nova Scotia c. 1784 list on the Muster Roll at Gulliver's Hole 4
Mr. Robert Fitzrandolph U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Fitzrandolph (post 1700) +

Casey J. FitzRandolph (b. 1975), American bronze medalist speedskater at the World Sprint Championships (1997)
Joan Fitz-Randolph, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arizona, 1996 5
Stuart Fitzrandolph Merrill (1863-1915), American symbolist poet

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html