Fog History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Fog name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the area that was referred to as the fogge, a Middle English word which means the grass that was left to grow once the hay had been cut. 1 The surname Fog also has occupational origins when it refers a farmer who had grazing cattle on the grass during the winter months.

Early Origins of the Fog family

The surname Fog was first found in Kent or perhaps Lancashire. Lower states that "it is an ancient Kentish family," 2 while Bardsley claims the name is a "well-known Lancashire surname. " 3

Early records of the family are scarce, but we did find record of Thomas Fogg, in Norfolk in 1509 4 and Robert Fogg, of Radcliffe, yeoman in Cheshire in 1592. 3

Phileas Fogg, the fictional protagonist Jules Verne's novel Around the World in Eighty Days was inspired by the American writer and adventurer William Perry Fogg (1826-1909.)

Early History of the Fog family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fog research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1360, 1376, 1378, 1380, 1381, 1383, 1384, 1388, 1407, 1417, 1490, 1623, 1662, 1676, 1691 and 1718 are included under the topic Early Fog History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fog Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Fog were recorded, including Fogg, Fogge, Foge, Fog and others.

Early Notables of the Fog family

Notables of the family at this time include

Sir Thomas Fogg (Fogge) (died 1407), English politician and soldier, a knight (1360), elected Member of Parliament for Kent in 1376, 1378, 1380, 1381, 1383, 1384, and 1388
Laurence Fogg or Fogge (1623-1718), was Dean of Chester in 1691. He was the son of Robert Fogg (who was an active worker for the parliament, rector of Bangor-is-y-Coed, Flintshire, ejected 1662, died...
Sir John Fogge (c.1417-1490) was an English courtier, soldier and supporter of the Woodville family under Edward IV

Migration of the Fog family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Fog family emigrate to North America: Whitting Fogg who settled in Virginia in 1653; Ralph Fogg settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1630; John Fogg settled in Boston in 1630; William Fogg settled in Virginia in 1773..

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print