| ![Show Contents]() Phyfe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
Etymology of PhyfeWhat does the name Phyfe mean? In Scottish history, few names go farther back than Phyfe, whose ancestors lived among the clans of the Pictish tribe. They lived in the county of Fife. The surname Phyfe belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. As a general rule, the greater the distance between individuals and their homelands, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, people who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came. Early Origins of the Phyfe familyThe surname Phyfe was first found in Fife, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. Early History of the Phyfe familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Phyfe research. Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1436, 1447, 1453, 1454, 1462 and 1464 are included under the topic Early Phyfe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Phyfe Spelling VariationsThe arts of spelling and translation were yet in their infancies when surnames began, so there are an enormous number of spelling variations of the names in early Scottish records. This is a particular problem with Scottish names because of the numerous times a name might have been loosely translated to English from Gaelic and back. Phyfe has been spelled Fyfe, Fife, Fyffe, Phyfe, Phyffe and others. Early Notables of the Phyfe familyMore information is included under the topic Early Phyfe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Phyfe family to IrelandSome of the Phyfe 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.
| Phyfe migration to the United States | + |
This oppression forced many Scots to leave their homelands. Most of these chose North America as their destination. Although the journey left many sick and poor, these immigrants were welcomed the hardy with great opportunity. Many of these settlers stood up for their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. More recently, Scots abroad have recovered much of their collective heritage through highland games and other patriotic functions and groups. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has located various settlers bearing the name Phyfe:
Phyfe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Duncan Phyfe, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1801 1
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: Virtute et opera
Motto Translation: By virtue and energy.
- 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)
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