Show ContentsFolsworth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Folsworth family

The surname Folsworth was first found in Cambridgeshire at Folksworth, a small village and parish, in the union of Peterborough, hundred of Norman-Cross. Traditionally part of Huntingdonshire, the village has remained small over the centuries but dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Folchesworde. 1 Literally, the place name means "enclosure of a man called Folc," from the Old English personal name + "worth." 2 St Helen's Church on Morborne Road was first built in 1150 AD and was later restored in 1850.

Early History of the Folsworth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Folsworth research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1510, 1541 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Folsworth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Folsworth Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Folsworth has appeared include Folksworth, Foulkesworth, Foulksworth, Folkesworth, Follsworth and many more.

Early Notables of the Folsworth family

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

Migration of the Folsworth family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Folsworth arrived in North America very early: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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