Show ContentsFothergal History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Fothergal family

The surname Fothergal was first found in Cumberland (now called Cumbria) at Fothergill, a seaside hamlet with a headland named Fothergill Head.

Generally it is thought that the etymology of the place is Viking in origin from "Fother's Ravine." 1

Most of the family call themselves Scottish as the lion's share hail from there. "There is a Fothergill and a barony of Fothergill in Perth Retours, now Fortingal. The surname, however, seems to be derived from a place of the name in the North of England. " 2

Early History of the Fothergal family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fothergal research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1652, 1685, 1705, 1712, 1731, 1760, 1761 and 1780 are included under the topic Early Fothergal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fothergal Spelling Variations

The name Fothergal, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Fothergill, Fothergil, Fottinghaul, Fotterall and others.

Early Notables of the Fothergal family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was The Reverend Marmaduke Fothergill (1652-1731), a Yorkshire clergyman, scholar of Christian liturgy and collector of books. His donated collection is held as the Fothergill Collection at York Minster Library. Anthony Fothergill (1685?-1761), was an English theological writer, the youngest son of Thomas Fothergill of Brownber, Ravenstonedale, Westmorland. "Like his forefathers and descendants for many generations he owned Brownber, and lived and died there. Though he is said to have had no 'liberal education,' he published several theological works. " He seems to have acted as...
Another 93 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fothergal Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fothergal family

The New World beckoned as many of the settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Amongst the early settlers who could be considered kinsmen of the Fothergal family, or who bore a variation of the surname Fothergal were James Fottinghaul who settled in New York in 1822 with his wife and five children; William Fothergill settled in Maryland in 1732; another William Fothergill arrived in Philadelphia in 1802.



  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. 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)


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