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Welcome to the FOALE One-Name-Study Page. 

FOALE FAMILY HISTORY (Updated 1/03/2008)

There are many text-books on the History of Surnames, there is little agreement between them for the origin of the family name FOALE.  P. H. Reaney's work is often regarded as a standard reference in the UK.  He suggests that  FOALE  is of the Nickname category from the Old English 'fola' meaning frisky, but in the 14th century used to denote persons of ragged, rough or shaggy appearance. He quotes the earliest example as Robert, Reginald FOLE 1193 from the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire.

"The Norman People" pub. 1874, suggests the  FOALE  name is from a common source with FOWELL, FAUEL, FAWEL. The common proximity of the names in Devon in the 16th century would appear to support this opinion. (There are records of the name spellings interchanging in the 16th and 17th centuries.) It notes the common name ancestors as John, Robert, Hugh, Geoffrey de FAUVEL of Normandy 1180 - 95. (Hoskins suggests that the family may have been in Devon before the Norman Conquest) William FAUVEL held from Oliver de Tracey, Devon, 1165. 'Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries' states that the name was originally de Voghill. The family arms, now extinct, were registered in the College of Arms in 1306. The associated moto reads 'Non Ostendo Sed Ostendo' 'I boast not but give proof'.

Other sources suggest a Nickname origin with animal attributes or working with horses - i.e.: like a baby horse. OR "Denoted possession of a horse". The use of FOAL type words for a young horse is common in many languages. Friesian speakers in Northern Holland still speak a language thought to be little changed from the Anglii, ancestors of the English Speaking peoples. Frisian uses the name FOALLE for a baby horse.

Another source suggests a Nickname source FOLLE - or FOOL a professional jester. Another Nickname suggestion is FOWLE "like a bird or Fowl".

It is suggested that the name may be linked to the Irish name FOWLEY, in Armagh in 1557 there is mention of a district called FOALLEE.

It is possible that the name may be linked to the Cornish Surname FAULL, the name spelling can be seen to interchange with FOALE in the registers and gravestones of Crowan. FAULL has a meaning of 'fail' or 'deficiency' or 'place of the beeches', this name may have originated from the Spanish de FALLE.

Most of the standard works tend to be weak on regional variations, it is possible that at some time all the above may have been valid, i.e.: local to a particular region, but may have not survived.  Without a doubt the main area from where the surviving family members appear to have originated is Devon, England. The earliest references I have found in Devon are Un Verdas de la FOLE, Smith Tarton Hundred 1243. Andrew FOEL, Tynmouth 1316, invitation to a Popes Coronation.

The name is also found in the Maramures North Western Roumania Region - in modern Roumanian the name means 'bellows' so possibly ancestors made or operated bellows for the metal working industry. There is a river in Roumania, a tributory of the Dragan River, named Paraul lui Foale. A number of Roumanian 'FOALE' families emigrated to the USA at the turn of the 19th century and their ancestors are there today.

Since 1900 there have been two forms of pronunciation for the name in current use, the most common FOAL ('as in baby horse' - which from my own experience and several others who have contacted me is the only way to make the name understood on the telephone) and FOE-LEA. (as in toe and sea or foe-are-lea). The most common spelling being FOALE, with a few spelt FOALLE or FOAL.

My own branch of the FOALE family were in Moreleigh Devon (and also possibly in East Allington) at the end of the 17th Century, moving to Colehanger Manor Farm, East Allington, Devon in the early 18th Century, moving to Plymouth, Devon at the beginning of the 19th Century, (with some members remaining in Portlemouth & Salcombe) moving to Deptford, Kent (South London) in 1870. The family regularly used the FOALLE variant of the name spelling.

I maintain full details of my own and the 5 other main FOALE family lines, at present I have been unable to positively link the 6 lines but I am confident that they do all link, in Devon in the 14th / 16th centuries.

A 21 page A5 extended version of this Introduction to the FOALE Family History with maps, charts and details of its sub-groups throughout the world is available. Just send 4 x 2nd class stamps (or equivalent) to cover printing and postage and I shall be pleased to send you a copy.

For further detailed information on your FOALE family ancestors please send me an email. I shall be pleased to hear from you.

 

Policy on information provision: I shall be pleased to provide details of your own Foale Family line. There is considerable pleasure to be obtained from conducting your own research - in these cases I should be happy to provide guidance if you are stuck. Conducting a one-name study is very rewarding - it is about people - families - linking and contacting family members, the little details are so valuable. The re-checking of original information often identifies additional details missed on first read through. The rapid distribution of information via the Internet has taken a lot of the excitement away from original research and has reduced checking of details. Family contacts are not established, those extra important little details do not get discovered, errors are broadcast as 'genuine',. Information donated freely is packaged and sold by unscrupulous companies.

To maintain the family contacts and encourage research, my normal policy is not to provide detailed information beyond the direct family line. If both parties are in agreement I shall be pleased to identify others researching a particular family line and re-introduce 'cousins'. Confidentiality of living persons should be respected.

For further information on Devon and its Genealogy visit the Genuk Devon Web pages click 'Devon'

To link to the Devon Family History Society Web page click 'DFHS'

For further information on Deptford, Chelsfield and other local Parish Genealogy contact the North West Kent Family History Society click 'North West Kent'

To connect to the UK Public Record Office Genealogy Web Site click 'Family Records Web Site'

My main family history records are held and maintained on a 'Pedigree' family history software package. I have approx. 6500 Foale's and Foale Family connections recorded with 2600 marriages and 1600 other events. Members of the family are now located the UK, America, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Vatican City and occasionally in space! I am in contact with over 150 Foale Family Members World Wide.

The FOALE name was registered with The Guild of One Name Studies, (GOONS), Goswell Rd. London in 1991. The aims and objectives of the Guild are: (a) To advance the education of the public in the study of genealogy and family history of persons with the same name and its variants. (World-wide) (b) To promote the preservation and publication of The resultant data, and to maximise its accessibility to interested members of the public. Why not visit the Guild Web Site and check out your Family Names click 'GOONS'.

My email address via the guild is foale@one-name.org

I would very much welcome further contacts from any Foale Family related members, however distant. I welcome contributions for a proposed WWW News Letter. Particularly personal recollections you may have relating to the family.

I am also researching as part of my own and my wife's Family History the following linked names:

  • ABLETHORP (pre 1840 Simpson & Walton, BKM)

  • AVERY (pre 1700, BKM)
  • BARDONS (pre 1680, DVN)
  • CALLAGHAN (pre 1860's Cork??, IRL & from 1840's  - 1950's St.Olaves, SRY)
  • CROSSMAN (1800's St.Olaves, SRY)
  • DICKENS (pre 1800's Mursley, BKM)
  • DRURY (1800's Southwark, SRY)
  • (D)(E)WAN(D) (1800's - 1920's Bermondsey, SRY),
  • FLAXMAN (early 1800's Burnham Thorpe, NFK)
  • GORDAN (pre 1750 Old Bradwell, BKM)
  • HIGGINS (1800's, St.Giles & St.Ebbes Oxford OXF),
  • HOWES (mid 1700's Thornham Magna, SFK)
  • KEL(L)EHER (1800's Bermondsey, SRY)
  • LAKE (late 1700's Plymouth, DVN),
  • LAMBLE (pre 1750's, Chivelstone, DVN)
  • LEWIS (late 1700's Little Walsingham, NFK)
  • MOGG (late 1700's Topsham, 1830's Totnes, 1850's Devonport DVN)
  • PILGRIM (pre 1750 Old Bradwell, BKM)
  • PLANT (1750's, LIN)
  • READ (mid 1700's Thornham Magna, SFK)
  • RICHARDSON (late 1700's ,Old Bolingbrooke & early 1800's, Calcethorpe & 1870's, Great Grimsby,  LIN),
  • ROBSON George (bc 1818 Cambridge CAM, 1880's Great Grimsby, LIN),
  • SEADON Ann (b.abt 1806, DVN)
  • SHIRLEY / SHURLEY (1700 -1800's, Shouldham, Downham NFK)
  • STAINES (1800 - 1880) - Docking, Ringstead, NFK
  • Lucy STAINES (1859 - ??) - Maid servant 1880 - 1901+ Lewisham, Forest Hill, & Sydenham KEN then to Australia c.1902?),
  • STEVENS (early 1800's Shouldham, NFK)
  • THURSTON (late 1700's Gunthorpe, NFK)
  • TRUNDLE (late 1700's Little Dunham, NFK)
  • TOWSON (early 1700's, Bigbury, DVN)
  • TUFFS (1700's, Thornham Magna, SFK. 1800's, Shouldham, NFK),
  • WALTERS (pre 1850's, Marazion, CON & 1850's Devonport, DVN, 1880+ Chelsea, MA, USA)
  • WALTERS (Pre 1800 Stoney Stratford, Old Bradwell, Pre 1850's Mursley & Simpson BKM, 1860/70's Finchley MDX, 1883 Streatham SRY & 1900's Brockley, KEN)
  • WARREN (late 1700's, DVN)
  • WELLS (early to mid 1800's Little Walsingham, NFK)
  • WILLMAN (pre 1780, BKM)
  • WIL(L)MER (pre 1850's Horwood, BKM)
  • WOODHOUSE (late 1700's Little Walsingham, NFK)
  • WRIGHT (pre 1880's, St.Ebbes, Oxford OXF),
  • YARRANTON (1800's Southwark & Bermondsey, SRY)

If you are interested in Genealogy, why not join the Society of Genealogists, for further information visit their Web Site, click 'SOG'.

Other interests of Barry Foale, Hon. Treasurer - St.Martin of Tours Church Chelsfield KENT, choral singing - Tonbridge Philharminic Choir, Citizens Advice Bureau Advisor, computing, DIY.

To return to the Home Entry page click "Welcome"

Barry J. FOALE

foale@one-name.org