Show ContentsFoular History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Foular is an Anglo-Saxon name. The name was originally given to a person who worked as the fowler or the bird-catcher having derived from the Old English word "fugelere" which literally means "hunter of wild birds, fowler" 1

Early Origins of the Foular family

The surname Foular was first found in Lincolnshire where Richard Fugelere was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1218. A few years later, Roger le Fugler was found in Norfolk in 1227. 1 In Wiltshire, one of the first records of the name was John the Foeglere who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. A few years later William le Foggheler and Henry le Fogheler were both listed in Somerset during the reign of King Edward III. 2

By the time of the Yorkshire Poll Tax in 1379, Ricardus Foghler and Rogerus Foghler were both listed in Yorkshire. 2 Fawler is a hamlet and civil parish in the valley of the River Evenlode in Oxfordshire. It dates back to 1205 when it was first listed as Fauflor and probably meant "variegated floor" as in "tessellated pavement" from the Old English words fag + flor. 3

Early History of the Foular family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Foular research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1218, 1270, 1358, 1451, 1537, 1555, 1560, 1577, 1579, 1585, 1590, 1610, 1612, 1632, 1662, 1678, 1685, 1691, 1693, 1714, 1756 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Foular History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Foular Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Foular has appeared include Fowler, Fouler, Fowlers, Fouler, Fowlar, Folar, Fouller, Fowlare, Foweller, Fowaller, Foulier, Foullar, Foular and many more.

Early Notables of the Foular family

Distinguished members of the family include John Fowler (1537-1579), English Catholic printer and scholar, born at Bristol in 1537; Abraham Fowler (fl. 1577), an English poet, a Queen's scholar at Westminster; Christopher Fowler (1610?-1678), an English ejected minister by the Uniformity Act of 1662; Thomas Fowler, (died 1590), English lawyer, diplomat, courtier, spy...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Foular Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Foular family to Ireland

Some of the Foular family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 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 Foular family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Foular arrived in North America very early: John Fowler who settled in Virginia in 1622.



The Foular 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: Sapiens qui vigilat
Motto Translation: He is wise who watches


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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