The ancient name Fortesque is a Norman name that would have been developed in
England after the
Norman Conquest of
England in 1066. This name was a name given to a
valiant or strong warrior. This name is composed of the Old French elements,
fort, which means
strong, and
escu, which means
shield. Sir Richard le Forte was one of the leaders of the Norman army at Hastings. He was a great fighter and protected Duke William by holding a large
shield or
escue in front of him, hence
Fortescue.
Early Origins of the Fortesque family
The surname Fortesque was first found in
Devon at Wymodeston (later called Winston) in the parish of Modbury in the year 1209.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print. This was "the most ancient seat of the Fortescues, in whose possession it continued from the days of King John to the Reign or Queen Elizabeth."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print. A current search for Winston in
Devon returns nothing other than a reference to Winston Manor. However, the parish of Modbury is today in the South Hams region.
Early History of the Fortesque family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fortesque research.
Another 196 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1442, 1607, 1394, 1476, 1442, 1461, 1531, 1607, 1578, 1659, 1580, 1659, 1621, 1581, 1666, 1665, 1719, 1689, 1695, 1695, 1698 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Fortesque History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Fortesque Spelling Variations
Before the last few
hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason,
spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Fortesque were recorded, including Fortescue, Fortesque and others.
Early Notables of the Fortesque family (pre 1700)
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir John Fortescue (c.1394-1476), English jurist. A supporter of the Lancastrian king Henry VI, he was chief justice of the Court of King's Bench from 1442 until 1461; John Fortescue (1531-1607), the third Chancellor of the Exchequer of England; George Fortescue (1578-1659), an...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fortesque Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Fortesque family to Ireland
Some of the Fortesque family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 47 words (3 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 Fortesque family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Fortesque Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Percival Fortesque, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Surat" in 1864
The Fortesque Motto
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: Forte scutum salus ducum
Motto Translation: A strong shield is the safety of generals
Fortesque Family Crest Products
See Also
Citations
- ^ Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.