Fosdike

This unusual surname recorded in the various spellings of Frosdick, Frosdicke, Frosdike, Frostick, Frisdick, Frostdick, and no doubt others, is locational. It is believed to derive from a 'lost' medieval village in the county of Norfolk, or site, which in ancient times was known as 'The Frisians Dyke' or similar. This was presumably a pre 9th century defensive structure which sheltered early 'Frisian' invaders who pre-dated the more historically famous Angles and Saxons. The Royal Commission list of lost villages does not however record the site, which suggests that it was very small. Eitherway it was probably cleared for sheep farming in the 14th century, when much of East Anglia was used for this type of agriculture, and some five thousand 'villages' are known to have disappeared at this time. The epi-centre of the surname in the early days of church recordings was Norwich. This is logical as Norwich was with York and Bristol, the only large cities, (about ten thousand inhabitants), outside of London. Examples of the recording include John Frosdike, christened at St Julians, Norwich, on November 2nd 1589, and Robertus Frosdicke, christened at St Andrews church, Norwich, on June 29th 1593. Other recordings are those of Sarah Frostdyke of Catfield, Norfolk, on November 4th 1625, and Robert Frostick at South Walsham, Norfolk, on May 17th 1753. The coat of arms was granted in Devon, far from its homeland. This has the blazon of vaire, silver and black. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of James Frostdick, which was dated October 12th 1550, who was christened at St Giles church, Norwich, during the reign of King Edward V1, known as 'The boy king', 1547 - 1554. 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.