Freshton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Freshton family

The surname Freshton was first found in Sussex where the family name was first referenced in the year 1296 when John de Freshfield held estates in the county. The parish of Staveley in Derbyshire was an ancient family seat. "This place was for many generations the seat of the Frecheville family, of whom Sir John, an active royalist in the reign of Charles I., strongly fortified his mansion, and, having raised a battery of twelve pieces of cannon, held it against the parliamentarian forces for a considerable time, but in August 1644 was obliged to surrender by capitulation." 1

Early History of the Freshton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Freshton research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1327, 1544, 1603 and 1632 are included under the topic Early Freshton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Freshton Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Freshton has undergone many spelling variations, including Freshfield, Frechville, Frechfield, Freshton, Froshfield, Freshwell, Fretchwell, Frecheville and many more.

Early Notables of the Freshton family

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

Migration of the Freshton family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Freshton were among those contributors: settlers, who arrived along the eastern seaboard, from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands.

The Freshton 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: Nobilitatis virtus non stemma character
Motto Translation: Virtue, not lineage, is the mark of nobility.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.