Surname Fawcett - Meaning and Origin

Navigating the Genetic Map: An Insight into the Fawcett Lineage through iGENEA DNA Testing

Embarking on a personal journey of self-discovery, I endeavored to delve into my family history through the lens of genetic science. With the aid of an iGENEA DNA test, I was able to trace the genetic heritage of my Fawcett ancestors, hailing predominantly from Western Europe, peeling back layers on familial origins. The accuracy and depth of the DNA profile, combined with the fascinating etymological perspectives behind the Fawcett surname, afforded a novel understanding of my lineage.

Z. Fawcett

Fawcett: What does the surname Fawcett mean?

The surname Fawcett is of English origin and has been recorded in various spellings including Fawcet and Fawsett. It is a topographic name for someone who lived in a fawcett, which was an old English term meaning "open piece of higher ground in a boggy area". In some cases, it might also have been an occupational name for a falconer, as a fawcett was a place where hawks were trained, or a nickname for someone thought to resemble a hawk.

The earliest recorded ancestor of the Fawcett family was a man named Gospatric de Faucet, who held a small estate in Westmorland during the reign of King Edward I of England. In the 16th century, Alexander Fawcett inherited land in the parish of Bolton, Yorkshire and the descendants of this family became quite prominent in the area. The name is also found throughout Scotland, especially in Galloway.

Throughout history, members of the Fawcett family have made contributions to numerous industries such as mining, the Church, and military service. Reverend William Fawcett was a Presbyterian minister in colonial America and later founded a college in Delaware. Colonel Thomas Fawcett was a member of the British Army and fought in the Revolutionary War.

Today, the surname Fawcett continues to be widely used in England, Scotland, and the United States.

Fawcett: Where does the name Fawcett come from?

The last name Fawcett is quite common today in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and the United States. The name is particularly common in the United Kingdom, where it ranks 29th in the top 100 most common surnames. It is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Fawce, which is derived from the Old Norse given name Fákr. This name is derived from the words ‘fa’ meaning “good” and ‘ekr’ meaning “forest” or “woodland”.

The earliest known record of the surname was in the rolls of the parish of St. Bees in Cumberland, England from 1273. Since then, the surname Fawcett has spread across the British Isles and the North Americas.

Variations of the name can be found in other countries, typically regions that the historical Anglo-Saxon influence had touched. These include countries such as Scandinavia and Russia.

The surname Fawcett is notable for producing many notable people. Some of the most famous are the British actress Farrah Fawcett, the Australian impressionist artist Olive Fawcett, the American author Peter S. Fawcett, and the British Admiral William Fawcett.

Variations of the surname Fawcett

The most common spelling of the surname Fawcett is Fawcett, however there are many variants and alternate spellings found in records. These include Fawsett, Fawset, Fawsett, Fawcete, Fawside, Faucitt, Fauset, Fausett, Fausset, Faucit, Faussett, Fawcet, Faucet, Faucett, Fauchet, Fausett, Fausset, Faucett and Fawksit.

Variant spellings of Fawcett can be found in many countries around the world, including England, Scotland, Germany, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The surname is also common in parts of France and Latin America.

Surnames of the same origin as Fawcett include Faucit, Faucher, Fauchet, Fauchett, Faucitt, Faucit, Foussette, Fauchette, Fawsettte and Fausette.

The meaning of the surname Fawcett is believed to be taken from the Old French "fausse" meaning false or spurious. It may also be derived from the Norman French "fausse" meaning "hawk-like".

Another possible origin of the name is the Old German "vogel" meaning bird, which could have been corrupted over time to the French-sounding "fausse".

The surname is also fairly common across North America with early examples appearing in the records of many of the colonies. In some cases, variants of the name may have been adopted as a way to differentiate between two individuals with the same name.

Famous people with the name Fawcett

• Farrah Fawcett: the actress who became an icon of the 1970s with her iconic red swimsuit poster. She is best known for her role on the show Charlie's Angels.
• Michael Fawcett: British former royal butler to Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.
• Richard Fawcett: Angus-born British architect and architectural historian.
• Wes Fawcett: American actor best known for appearing in films such as The Time Machine, Tora! Tora! Tora! and Earthquake.
• Joanie Fawcett: American writer and wife of actor Farrah Fawcett.
• Jack Fawcett: English amateur rugby union player and member of the English National Team from 1929 to 1935.
• Allison Fawcett: British actor who appeared in the movies The Last of the Mohicans and Jane Eyre.
• Tom Fawcett: American professional tennis player who has won five career singles titles.
• John Fawcett: Canadian film director best known for directing the horror films Ginger Snaps and The Witch.
• Charles Fawcett: British author, painter, aviator, and explorer who served two terms in the Indian Air Force.

Other surnames

Fawcette