Fassam

This is a surname of post medieval French Huguenot protestant origins. Recorded in a wide variety of spellings including Fassan, Fasson, Fashin, Fashion, and Fazan, the dialectals Fasham, Fassam and Fassum, it derives from the word "facan", which in medieval France originally described either a person who wore fashionable clothes, or more likely was the maker of the latest garments, a sort of early boutique owner. It was seemingly introduced into England at the begining of the 17th century through one Jean Fashion (as spelt), whose son also called Jean, was christened at the French church, Threadneedle Street, in the old city of London, on September 18th 1609. This church was the centre for all Huguenots who escaped from the persecution in Europe by the catholics, from the about the time of the Reformation in 1535 to the the year 1750. Later examples of the surname recording taken from early surviving church registers of the diocese of Greater London, and showing the continuing development of the surname include: Barbra Fasson, the daughter of Richard Fasson, who was christened at St Andrews, Holborn, on November 29th 1630, and George Fashion, a witness at the church of St Mary Mountlaw, on February 9th 1631. Later examples feature Mary Fashin at the famous church of St Dunstans in the East, Stepney, on November 16th 1713, James Fasham at St Georges church, Mayfair, on July 18th 1749, Samuel Fazan, a witness at St Lukes, Finsbury, on October 15th 1797, and John Henry Fassum, at St Barnabas, Islington, on September 22nd 1875.