Fontleroy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Fontleroy

What does the name Fontleroy mean?

Soon after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the name Fontleroy was recognized on the island as a name for a defender of the king. Less a nickname than a motto adopted as a name, Fontleroy translates roughly from the Old French as defend the king. The motto would have been rendered Defendez le Roi in French.

Early Origins of the Fontleroy family

The surname Fontleroy was first found in Wiltshire where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Fontleroy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fontleroy research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fontleroy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fontleroy Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Fontleroy, Fauntleroy, Fautleroy, Fantlaroy and many more.

Early Notables of the Fontleroy family

Fontleroy of Fauntleroy's Marsh

Fontleroy migration to the United States +

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Fontleroy or a variant listed above:

Fontleroy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James Fontleroy, who settled in Boston in 1679

Fontleroy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

R. Fontleroy, who settled in Carolina in 1872

Contemporary Notables of the name Fontleroy (post 1700) +

James Fontleroy Grinstead (1845-1921), American Republican politician, Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, 1907-09; Jefferson County Commissioner, 1917-21 1
James Fontleroy Grinstead (1845-1921), American politician nicknamed "Honest Jim", Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky from 1907 to 1909

Sources +

The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, July 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html