The Fair Family Crest

Gregory William Fair
The Fair Family Crest's symbols and colors
Red Shield The Red Shield - 'The Martyr's color', signifies Strength, Military Fortitude, and Martyrdom.
Gold Mantling - Represents Generosity and elevation of the mind.
The Anchor - The Christian symbol of Hope, Salvation, and Steadfastness.
The Five Pointed Star - Denotes Virtue, Learning, and Piety (religious devotion).
The Dove - A symbol of the soul and Holy Spirit. It means peace and purity.
The Olive Branch - Signifies a harbinger of good tidings.
The Helmet - Reserved only for nobility, signifies noble family.
A Family Crest, also known as a "Coat of Arms" is a symbol granted by only by kings to knights and noble families in medieval Europe.

Knights and noblemen decorated their shields and flags with their coat of arms to identify themselves or their armies on the battlefield.

Symbols were often added to a coat of arms for acts of valor and honor. Likewise symbols could be removed from the coat of arms if the family did not display the virtues symbolized.
The early recordings include Robert Faier, in the Suffolk Court Rolls of 1191, Henry le Vayre in the Duchy of Cornwall Accounts for 1297, Dorothy Fayre (1573, Stepney), Elizabeth Faire (1616, London) and Abraham Fair (1799, London). Amongst the early recording is that of Robert Faires who married Anne Flaws on June 2nd 1696 at St Dunstan's, Stepney, London.A Coat of Arms granted to Sir Arthur Phayre (Chief Commissioner in British Burmah has the blazon of Gules a cross moline argent, surmounted of a bend azure in the sinister chief an Eastern Crown ore, all within a border of the last. The Crest being, out of an eastern crown a dove holding a laurel branch. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edeua Faira, which was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book of Middlesex, during the reign of King William 1, known as "The Conqueror", 1066 - 1087. 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.
The use of coats of arms became pretty common by the 12th century, and were used by many knights and minor feudal lords who went into battle. Within another century, families were using coats of arms (usually ones granted to an ancestor a century before) as the family logo, and sewed these arms onto flags that flew above their castles and manors.

Only the highest classes of people in medieval Europe used coats of arms, as they were the only one with ancestors distinguished enough to have been granted them by the kings of the time.

Once a family started using a coat of arms, it was passed down through the generations, from father to son, even down into the present day.
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
The oldest son would inherit his family’s coat of arms and pass it down through his sons.

When a noble woman married, the coat of arms of her family was often added to her husband’s coat of arms, and passed down through their successive generations.

The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edeua Faira, which was dated 1086 A.D., in the Domesday Book of Middlesex, during the reign of King William 1, known as "William The Conqueror", 1066 - 1087 A.D.

The Fair Surname

This interesting and unusual name is a variant of Fair which is a personal name of pre 8th Century Anglo-Saxon origin which does mean what it says, "the fair or beautiful one". 

It derives from the Old German "Faeger" and was equally popular in its different spellings in England, Norway, Denmark and Sweden and was also taken up with enthusiasm by the Norman invaders of 1066.

The variant spellings include Faire, Fayre, Faers, Fayer, Fyers, Phair and Phayre. 

Origins: French, Irish, Scottish

The Fair surname is derived from the Middle English word "fair," or "fayr," from the Old English "fæger;" meaning "handsome," "beautiful," or "fair." As such, the name is generally considered to have originally been a nickname, although it was in occasional use as a personal name for both men and women.

Fair Early Origins

The surname Fair was first found in Cumberland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Spelling variations of this family name include: Fair, Faire, Faires, Fayer, Fayers, Fairs, Fare, Phair, Phaire, Phayre, Phares and many more.

The Great Migration - Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fair Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

  • William Fair, who landed in Virginia in 1704
  • Joseph Fair landed in Pennsylvania in 1772
  • William Fair landed in Pennsylvania in 1774

Fair Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

  • Robert Fair, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1802
  • Richard Fair, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1807
  • James Fair, who landed in New York, NY in 1811
  • Ann Fair, who landed in New York, NY in 1811
  • William Fair, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1812

Fair Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

  • Mr. Francis Fair U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he was part of the Cape Ann Association

Fair Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

  • John Fair, who arrived in Canada in 1820
  • John Fair, who landed in Canada in 1831
  • Alice Fair settled in Ontario in 1871
  • Abraham Fair came to Manitoba in 1891
  • Agatena Fair came to Manitoba in 1891

Fair Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

  • William Fair, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Agamemnon" on April 22, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia
  • Andrew Fair, aged 23, a labourer, arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Melbourne"

Fair Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

  • Jane Fair arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Sydenham" in 1870

Contemporary Notables of the name Fair (post 1700)

  • Elinor Fair (1903-1957), American motion picture actress
  • Brian Fair (b. 1975), American musician, best known as lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Shadows Fall
  • Jad Fair (b. 1954), American singer, guitarist and graphic artist
  • Lorraine Ming "Lorrie" Fair (b. 1978), American member of the World Cup Champion United States national soccer team
  • Ron Fair, American record producer arranger, recording engineer and songwriter
  • Brigadier-General Ford Larimore Fair (1898-1946), American Chief of Staff, European Air Transport Service (1946)
  • Benjamin F. Fair, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1912
  • A. Lee Fair, American Democrat politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1944
  • Charles H. Fair, American politician, Mayor of Chillicothe, Ohio, 1967
  • Charlie Fair, American Democrat politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1952

Fair Historic Events

HMS Hood

  • Mr. George W Fair (b. 1919), English Shipwright 4th Class serving for the Royal Navy from Birmingham, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS
  • Hood and died on 24th May 1941 in the sinking
The early recordings include Robert Faier, in the Suffolk Court Rolls of 1191, Henry le Vayre in the Duchy of Cornwall Accounts for 1297, Dorothy Fayre (1573, Stepney), Elizabeth Faire (1616, London) and Abraham Fair (1799, London). Amongst the early recording is that of Robert Faires who married Anne Flaws on June 2nd 1696 at St Dunstan's, Stepney, London.A Coat of Arms granted to Sir Arthur Phayre (Chief Commissioner in British Burmah has the blazon of Gules a cross moline argent, surmounted of a bend azure in the sinister chief an Eastern Crown ore, all within a border of the last. The Crest being, out of an eastern crown a dove holding a laurel branch. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edeua Faira, which was dated 1086, in the Domesday Book of Middlesex, during the reign of King William 1, known as "The Conqueror", 1066 - 1087. 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.

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Greg Fair
Gregory Fair
Gregory William Fair
Falls Church
Virginia