|
![Show Contents]() Forseith History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland
The ancestors of the Forseith family were part of an ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. The name Forseith is derived from the old Gaelic personal name Fearsithe, which means man of peace. 1 However, some recorded examples of the surname Forseith suggest that it is occasionally a local name derived from residence a place named Forsythe. There appears to be two origins for the family: Stirlingshire and Edinburghshire. 1 Another source claims the family came from "Forcett (whence also Fawcett) a township in the wapentake of Gillingwest, in the [North Riding] of Yorkshire," 2 but this source's claim is doubtful. Early Origins of the Forseith familyThe surname Forseith was first found in Stirlingshire, where "Osbert filius Forsyth [who] had charter of a hundred shilling land in the tenement of Salakhill (now Sauchie), sheriffdom of Stirling, from Robert I c. 1308." 3 The Edinburghshire's first entry was that of "William de Fersith, bailie of Edinburgh, 1365, [who] may be William of Forsythe, servant of Aleyn of Bollone of Edinburgh, merchant of Scotland, 1394." 3 Early History of the Forseith familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Forseith research. Another 278 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1364, 1368, 1402, 1405, 1418, 1420, 1423, 1424, 1426, 1428, 1439, 1446, 1451, 1452, 1461, 1471, 1487, 1497, 1498, 1504, 1512, 1525, 1621, 1890, 1929 and 1980 are included under the topic Early Forseith History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Forseith Spelling VariationsThe appearance of the printing press and the first dictionaries in the last few hundred years did much to standardize spelling. Prior to that time scribes spelled according to sound, a practice that resulted in many spelling variations. Forseith has been spelled Forsyth, Forsythe, Forseyth, Forsy, Foursides and others. Early Notables of the Forseith familyNotable amongst the Clan at this time was William de Fersith, who participated at an inquest in Edinbergh, 1402. He may be William Fersith (without 'de'), who was burgess of Edinbergh in 1423.
Thomas of Forsythe was listed in Edinburgh, 1439. Robert of Forsythe had a safe conduct in England...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Forseith Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Forseith family to Ireland
Some of the Forseith family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Forseith familyThe expense of the crossing to the North American colonies seemed small beside the difficulties of remaining in Scotland. It was a long and hard trip, but at its end lay the reward of freedom. Some Scots remained faithful to England and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others fought in the American War of Independence. Much of this lost Scottish heritage has been recovered in the last century through Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Forseith: James Forsyth who settled in New England in 1685; Catherine Forsyth settled in Georgia in 1747; Adam Forsyth settled in Philadelphia in 1802; followed by Henry, James, John, Joseph, Patrick, Robert, Samuel, Thomas Forsyth, who all passed through the same port between 1800 and 1865..
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Instaurator ruinae
Motto Translation: A repairer of ruin.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
|
