Fotherby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the name Fotherby date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Fotherby family lived in Fotherby, a parish, in the union of Louth, wapentake of Ludborough, parts of Lindsey in Lincolnshire. 1 2

Early Origins of the Fotherby family

The surname Fotherby was first found in Lincolnshire at Fotherby. The place dates back to at least the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was known as Fodrebi. 3 Literally the place name means "farmstead of a man called Fotr" or "farmstead which supplies fodder," from the Viking personal name "fothr" + "by." 4

The first record of the family was Ranulf de Foterby who was listed in 1250. 5

Early History of the Fotherby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fotherby research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1549, 1596, 1615, 1618 and 1619 are included under the topic Early Fotherby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fotherby Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Fotherby are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Fotherby include: Fotherby, Fotherbey and others.

Early Notables of the Fotherby family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Martin Fotherby (1549?-1619), Bishop of Salisbury, son of Maurice Fotherby, a resident at Grimsby, Lincolnshire...

Fotherby migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Fotherby or a variant listed above:

Fotherby Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Susan Fotherby who settled in Rappahannnock in the year 1727

Fotherby migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Fotherby Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Fotherby (aged 26), a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Gomelza"

Contemporary Notables of the name Fotherby (post 1700) +

Lesley Fotherby, British artist was born in London

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)