Franchomme History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Franchomme

What does the name Franchomme mean?

Today's generation of the Franchomme family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Franchomme family lived in Norfolk, at Great Fransham or Little Fransham, parishes in the union of Mitford and Launditch, hundred of Launditch. Little Fransham's old Hall, "now a farmhouse, contains a room in which Queen Elizabeth is said to have slept one night, when on a tour through Norfolk." 1

Bother parishes date back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when they were one and known as Frandesham. 2 At this time Fransham consisted of 3 mills.

Early Origins of the Franchomme family

The surname Franchomme was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of the village of Fransham. The village of Fransham in 1086 was held by Gilbert from William de Warenne, the overlord whose line later became the Dukes of Warwick. Conjecturally, the Fransham name is directly descended from Gilbert, who was probably the son or nephew of William of Warenne. William, Count of Warren in Normandy, was a great friend and trusted companion of Duke William, the Conqueror of England in 1066. He married Gundreda, daughter of Queen Matilda. William, who fought at the Battle of Hastings, was one of the nobles who ruled England when Duke William returned to Normandy from time to time.

Early History of the Franchomme family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Franchomme research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1198, 1273, 1334, 1660, 1730, 1743 and 1810 are included under the topic Early Franchomme History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Franchomme Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Franchomme include Fransham, Francham, Frensham, Frenchum, Franchum, Franchem, Franshem, Frencham, Franchomme and many more.

Early Notables of the Franchomme family

John Fransham (1730-1810), English freethinker, son of Thomas and Isidora Fransham. "He showed precocity at an elementary school. He wrote sermons, which the rector of St. George's thought good enough to submit to the dean. The aid of a relative, probably Isaac Fransham (1660-1743), an attorney, enabled him to study for the church. His relative dying, Fransham, at...
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Franchomme Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Franchomme migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Franchommes to arrive on North American shores:

Franchomme Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mr Franchomme, who settled in Louisiana in 1719
Mr. Franchomme, who landed in Louisiana in 1719 3

Sources +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)