Fursdonne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the bearers of the Fursdonne family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in an area of Devon that contained large amounts of the furze plant. This plant was a prickly shrub with yellow flowers and was often found in large amounts covering a heath.

Early Origins of the Fursdonne family

The surname Fursdonne was first found in Devon at Fursdon, a historic house and farming estate. "From the days of Henry III, if not from an earlier period, this ancient family has resided at this place from whence the name is derived." 1

Early History of the Fursdonne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fursdonne research. Another 61 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1340, 1620 and 1638 are included under the topic Early Fursdonne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fursdonne Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Fursdonne include Furse, Furze, Fursdon, Fursdonne and others.

Early Notables of the Fursdonne family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fursdonne Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fursdonne family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled 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 ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Fursdonne or a variant listed above: Morris Furse who settled in Barbados in 1685; John Furze arrived in Philadelphia in 1851. William Forse or Furse settled in St. John's Newfoundland in 1703.

The Fursdonne 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: No desit virtus
Motto Translation: No lack of power

Citations +

Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.