Fothergill Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Fothergill last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Fothergill last name
Meaning of the Fothergill last name: "fodder ravine". Fothergill is an English surname from Westmorland, from Old Norse fóðr, "fodder", and gil, "ravine". The last name is typical of Cumbria and North Yorkshire. The Quaker doctor John Fothergill was a London friend of Benjamin Franklin and a noted plant collector.
Arms associated with the Fothergill name
In England younger sons added small heraldic marks to a coat of arms, so Fothergill relatives could differ.
Get your full Fothergill family history
This is only a glimpse of the Fothergill story. The full Fothergill history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Fothergill coat of arms. Get the full Fothergill report.
Fothergill name FAQ
What does the Fothergill name mean?
"fodder ravine". Common variants include Fothergil, Fothergille.
Where does the Fothergill surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Fothergill coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Fothergill coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).