Fisc History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Fisc

What does the name Fisc mean?

The name Fisc was a nickname "the fish" for someone who was a fisherman or someone who sold fish from the Icelandic "fiskr" or the Danish "fish." 1

The name in Middle English was spelt fiske or fyske and was typically a northern England from of the word "fish." 2

Early Origins of the Fisc family

The surname Fisc was first found in Norfolk where "Fisc occurs as a personal name in the Domesday Book of 1086." 3 4 5

Later, Ernis Fish was listed in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1202 and in Suffolk, Daniel Fisc was listed there in 1208. The Pipe Rolls of Northumberland included Robert Fisk in 1230. In Cornwall, Robert le Fysch was found there in 1297. 4

"The Fiskes or Fisks are probably connected with the Fiskes of the parish of Cratling in the 17th century: a monument to one of the family in Cratling church bore the date of 1640 Rattlesden [Suffolk] was the home of an ancient family of Fiske, owning much property in the county last century." 6

Early History of the Fisc family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fisc research. Another 305 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1519, 1637, 1643, 1796, 1818, 1819, 1827, 1846, 1872, 1884 and 1902 are included under the topic Early Fisc History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fisc Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Fisc were recorded, including Fisk, Ffiske, Fiske, Fisc and others.

Early Notables of the Fisc family

Notables of the family at this time include William Fisk (1796-1872), the English painter, born in 1796 at Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex, "the son of a yeoman farmer at Can Hall in that county, of a family which boasted of some antiquity, dating back to the days of Henry IV. Drawing very early became Fisk's favourite occupation, but his inclination to art was discouraged by his father, who sent him to school at Colchester, and at nineteen years of age placed him in a mercantile house in London. In this uncongenial profession Fisk remained for...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fisc Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fisc family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Fisc family emigrate to North America: John Fiske, who arrived in Salem Massachusetts in 1637; David Fiske settled in Cambridge Massachusetts in 1640; Caspar Fisk settled in Delaware in 1693.

The Fisc 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: Macte Virtute Sic Itur Ad Astra
Motto Translation: So to the stars we go.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.