Fortun History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Fortun family

The surname Fortun was first found in East Lothian in Roxburghshire where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Fortun family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fortun research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200 and 1296 are included under the topic Early Fortun History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fortun Spelling Variations

Although the name, Fortun, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Fortune, Fortun and others.

Early Notables of the Fortun family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

John Fortune of Roxburghshire

Migration of the Fortun family to Ireland

Some of the Fortun 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.

Fortun migration to the United States +

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 Fortun family name Fortun, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Fortun Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Antonio Fortun, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1843 1
Gabriel Fortun, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1843 1
Santiago Fortun, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1843 1
Jose Maria Fortun, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1851 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Fortun (post 1700) +

Susi Fortun Lohrmann (b. 1973), German former professional tennis player

The Fortun 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: Diltai deus
Motto Translation: God Enriches

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)