Forsett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Forsett is derived from an ancient word meaning "fox on a hillside." Fa’side Castle, sometimes known as Fawside, Falside, Ffauside, Fauxside, or Fawsyde, is a 14th century Keep located in East Lothian, approximately 2 miles southwest of Tranent, and two miles southeast of Musselburgh. The castle dates to 1189, when the monks of Newbattle Abbey granted land to Saer de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester to build the castle on the site. Today the privately held castle still stands and includes a Bed and Breakfast for the weary traveler.

Early Origins of the Forsett family

The surname Forsett was first found in East Lothian, at Fawsyde where one of the first records of the name was Aedmundus de Fayeside who witnessed the grant of Tranent church to Holyrood Abbey be Thos filius Swani (c. 1150.) More than a century later, Alan de Fausyde witnessed a grant by Peter de Grame to the Hospital of Soltre before 1238.

Early History of the Forsett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Forsett research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1238, 1296, 1332, 1398, 1548, 1553, 1583, 1630, 1789, 1824, 1840, 1845 and 1852 are included under the topic Early Forsett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Forsett Spelling Variations

Although the name, Forsett, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Fawcett, Fawsyde, Faucett, Fallcett, Fawcitt, Faucitt, Fawside and many more.

Early Notables of the Forsett family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

Edward Forsett (1553?-1630?), English political writer who obtained from Elizabeth in 1583 a twenty-one years' lease of the manor of Tyburn, Middlesex, at the annual rent of 16l. 11s. 8d. "As a justic...

Migration of the Forsett family to Ireland

Some of the Forsett family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Forsett family

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Forsett family name Forsett, or who bore a variation of the surname were John Fawcett who arrived in Nova Scotia with his wife Jane in 1774. Adam Fawcett had already brought the name to the colonies when he purchased land in Virginia in 1654. By the mid-1800's the Fawcett surname had appeared in Pennsylvania and Louisiana..