Fotheringay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Etymology of Fotheringay

What does the name Fotheringay mean?

The history of the Fotheringay family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living in Fotheringhay, in Northamptonshire having derived from the Old English word fodring, which meant grazing. The other portion is the Old English word eg, which meant island. The name as a whole meant "island with good grazing land."

Early Origins of the Fotheringay family

The surname Fotheringay was first found in Angus where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Fotheringay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fotheringay research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1130, 1296 and 1358 are included under the topic Early Fotheringay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fotheringay Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Fotheringay include Fotheringham, Fothringham, Fothrynghame, Fotringham, Foderingham, Fotheringay and many more.

Early Notables of the Fotheringay family

More information is included under the topic Early Fotheringay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fotheringay family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Fotheringay or a variant listed above: John Fotheringham who settled in South Carolina in 1716.

The Fotheringay 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: Be it fast