Foise History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Foise

The distinguished surname Foise is one of the many to have come to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is derived from "Voise," the name of a place in the Eure-et-Loir region of France. It is likely that the first bearer of this name in England was one who had emigrated from the village of Voise. 1

Alternatively, the name could have originated from the word "vose," meaning "a ditch, entrenchment, wall, fortification," from the Latin word "fossa." 2

Early Origins of the Foise family

Early History of the Foise family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Foise research. Another 155 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1435, 1647, 1660, 1674 and 1722 are included under the topic Early Foise History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Foise Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Foise family name include Voice, Voyce, Foyce, Voise, Voyse and others.

Early Notables of the Foise family

More information is included under the topic Early Foise Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Foise family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Foise family to immigrate North America: Jonathan Voyce, who immigrated to Virginia in 1638; William Voyce, who arrived in Barbados in 1679; Jane Voice, who settled in Charleston, South Carolina in 1767.