| ![Show Contents]() Fransham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of FranshamWhat does the name Fransham mean? The name Fransham was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Fransham 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 Fransham familyThe surname Fransham 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 Fransham familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fransham 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 Fransham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Fransham Spelling VariationsNorman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Fransham, Francham, Frensham, Frenchum, Franchum, Franchem, Franshem, Frencham, Franchomme and many more. Early Notables of the Fransham family- John Fransham (1730-1810), English freethinker, son of Thomas and Isidora Fransham...
- The aid of a relative, probably Isaac Fransham (1660-1743), an attorney, enabled him to study for the church...
- His relative dying, Fransham, at the age of fifteen, was apprenticed for a few weeks to a cooper at Wymondham, Norfolk...
Migration of the Fransham familyMany English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World 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 stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Fransham or a variant listed above: Stephen Frensham settled in Virginia in 1728; and a Mr Franchomme, who settled in Louisiana in 1719.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Fransham (post 1700) | + |
- John Fransham (1730-1810), British scholar and teacher
- John Fransham (1670-1753), British linen draper and writer
- Ben Fransham (b. 1970), New Zealand movie actor
- 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)
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