Frisbe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Frisbe

What does the name Frisbe mean?

Frisbe is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Frisbe family lived in Leicestershire, in a town called Frisby which is now lost to the map. A number of towns called Frisby exist in England, all deriving their names from the Old Norman word frisir, which indicated someone from the area of Frisia or Friesland.

Early Origins of the Frisbe family

The surname Frisbe was first found in Leicestershire where the family were Lords of the manor of Frisby at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book, 1 a survey by William the Conqueror in 1086, after his conquest of England in 1066 A.D. Conjecturally they are descended from Fulk, a Norman noble who held this land from Hugh de Grandmesnil. The village is now deserted and lies on Frisby Hall farmland. Also in Leicestershire Frisby on the Wreake were estates held by Earl Hugh and may have had some connection to the family.

Early History of the Frisbe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Frisbe research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1929 and 1965 are included under the topic Early Frisbe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frisbe Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Frisbe are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Frisbe include Frisbie, Frisby, Frisbee, Frisebie, Frisebye, Friseby and many more.

Early Notables of the Frisbe family

More information is included under the topic Early Frisbe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Frisbe family to Ireland

Some of the Frisbe family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Frisbe family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Frisbe, or a variant listed above: Richard Frisbie who settled Virginia in 1619 before the "Mayflower"; Elizabeth Frisby settled in Virginia in 1635; Ann Frisby settled in Virginia in 1637.

The Frisbe 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: Semper fidelis
Motto Translation: Always faithful.

Sources +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)