Fairbrother

This interesting name is a surname incorporating a term of relationship. It is a variant on the name Fairbrother and is of Anglo-Saxon origin deriving from the old pre 7th Century English 'foeger', meaning fair or lovely and 'brothor', brother. The pattern of this surname was reflected in Norman usage and introduced by them into England after 1066, in such forms as 'Beaufrere', with the same meaning. One, William Beaufrere is mentioned in 'Parliamentary Writs' in or about 1300. The surname Farbrother in one of its forms was clearly established by the early 16th Century (see below). On May 28th 1635, one Nathaniell Faierbrother was registered as an emigrant for his passage in the 'Speedwell' from the port of London to Virginia. Several variant spellings of the surname are in use including Fairbrother and Farebrother. One Humfry Farbrother is noted in London church registers as marrying Ann Mortishead on August 20th 1676 at St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Fayerbrother, which was dated 1524, in the 'Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk', during the reign of King Henry V111, known as 'Good King Hal', 1509-1547. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.