Fyffe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Fyffe

What does the name Fyffe mean?

The Fyffe family name was first used by descendants of the Pictish people of ancient Scotland. It is a name for someone who lived in the county of Fife. The surname Fyffe 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 Fyffe family

The surname Fyffe 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 Fyffe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fyffe 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 Fyffe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fyffe Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages did not have access to a set of spelling rules. They spelled according to sound, the result was a great number of spelling variations. In various documents, Fyffe has been spelled Fyfe, Fife, Fyffe, Phyfe, Phyffe and others.

Early Notables of the Fyffe family

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

Fyffe Ranking

In the United States, the name Fyffe is the 14,323^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Fyffe family to Ireland

Some of the Fyffe 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.

Fyffe migration to the United States +

The cruelties suffered under the new government forced many to leave their ancient homeland for the freedom of the North American colonies. Those who arrived safely found land, freedom, and opportunity for the taking. These hardy settlers gave their strength and perseverance to the young nations that would become the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name Fyffe:

Fyffe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Rachel Fyffe, who settled in Georgia in 1734
James Fyffe, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1737 2
William Fyffe, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1737 2
Gilbert Fyffe, who landed in Georgia in 1741 2
Alexander Fyffe, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1755 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Fyffe (post 1700) +

Joseph P. Fyffe (1832-1896), American rear admiral who saw service in both the Mexican War and the American Civil War
Jim Fyffe (1945-2003), American sportscaster and radio talk show host
James William "Jim" Fyffe (1945-2003), American sportscaster and radio talk-show host, best known as the announcer for Auburn Tigers football and basketball
Will Fyffe (1885-1947), Scottish singer, stage and screen actor
The Rt Rev Rollestone Sterritt Fyffe DD (1868-1964), British prelate, fourth Bishop of Rangoon
William Samuel Fyffe (b. 1914), Irish unionist politician in Northern Ireland
Jahmaal Fyffe (b. 1990), English hip-hop rapper who has performed as Chip and as Chipmunk (rapper)
Charles Alan Fyffe (1845-1892), English historian
Rodney James Fyffe OAM (1949-2024), Australian politician and teacher, Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo
Nick Fyffe (b. 1972), English bassist
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Fyffe 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: Virtute et opera
Motto Translation: By virtue and energy.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)