Foyes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• France-Alt
• France
• Ireland

Etymology of Foyes

The surname Foyes originally appeared in Gaelic as "O Fiaich," derived from the word "fiach," which means "raven."

Early Origins of the Foyes family

Early History of the Foyes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Foyes research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1172 and 1707 are included under the topic Early Foyes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Foyes Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Foyes were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Foy, Fee, Fye, Fey and others.

Early Notables of the Foyes family

Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Foyes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Foyes family

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Foyes family relocated to North American shores quite early: Margaret Foy who settled in Maryland in 1732; Patrick Foy settled in New England in 1764; John Foy settled in Barbados in 1654; Hugh Foy settled in Barbados in 1680.