When our father Ferberd Henry Barrett (ID: I1019) began researching his family history in about 1967, one of the main reasons was to try to discover the origin of his peculiar forename which he shared with several ancestors.

GenNameBirth
Year
Relationship
-3Ferberd Barrett1846Great Grandfather
-2Ferberd Barrett 1876Great Uncle
-1Ferberd Henry Barrett1895Father
0Ferberd Henry Barrett1923
+1Paul Ferberd Barrett1952Son (Me)

(If you want to view the records of the people in our family who share this unusual name, click here.)

While he was able to trace the generations shown in the table, he came to an abrupt halt with Ferberd Barrett (I159) whose father was the far more prosaic John Barrett (I580), and there was no evidence of the name further back.  The name also doesn’t go any further forwards than me.  My mother Kath Barrett (I404) would not allow me to be called Ferberd Henry so it was relegated to a second name and, as it was the source of many school fights, it hasn’t gone any further down the line.

We hope that this article may reach other people who are researching this strange name, or one of it’s variants, and that it will help you, and in return we’d love to hear from you.  You can leave comments at the end of the post.

Source of the name in the Barrett Family

In our family, the name Ferberd appeared out of nowhere in 1846 when it was given to the eleventh child of twelve and the sixth boy, of John Barrett and Harriet Alder.  By the time the sixth boy came along John and Harriet may have been struggling for inspiration but they did not follow the fashion for biblical names.  I wish they had – I could have lived with ‘Saul’.  Instead they sought inspiration from elsewhere.

The most plausible explanation is that our first Ferberd is named after Doctor Ferberd Sessions Barrett whose practice covered their village. Perhaps the doctor attended the birth due to complications or maybe they saw or heard his name and decided they wanted to name our man after him, especially as he had the same family name.  As a young teenager our Ferberd was a stable boy to this doctor.

Contact is Made!

An earlier version of this article was published in March 2017, shortly after we had moved our family tree from Ancestry.co.uk to this site.  Following publication we were contacted by two people who were able to add to the Ferberd story.

The first contact was from Stephanie Argent from Canada and the second from Dr John Evans who lives in Appleton, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire) – Barrett Family heartlands.  Both of them had information about the Doctor’s line.  Stephanie provided lots of detailed written information while John provided a GEDCOM file of the Sessions family which I have imported into our site as a separate tree.

So, armed with the information from The Sessions Family tree, let’s take a look at the name in Doctor Barrett’s ancestral line and compare it to ours.

Tracing Ferberd Back Into Dr Barrett’s line

GenTreeNameBirth
Year
Relationship
-9SessionsFerbert Sessions
(spelt with a t)
1702Doctor’s 2 x great grandfather
-8SessionsSkips this generation
-7SessionsSkips this generation
-6SessionsCharles Ferberd Barrett1815Doctor’s Uncle
(But not the father of Ferberd Session-Barrett)
-5SessionsFerberd Barrett1828Doctor’s cousin
-5SessionsFerberd Session-Barrett1829Village Doctor
At This Point We Switch Families
-4BarrettFerberd Barrett1846Great Great Grandfather
-3BarrettFerberd Barrett 1876Great Uncle
-2BarrettFerberd Henry Barrett1895Grand Father
-1BarrettFerberd Henry Barrett1923Father
0BarrettPaul Ferberd Barrett1952Me

(If you want to take a more detailed look at the members of the Sessions family who have shared the unusual name, click here.)

Thus we were able  to trace usage of the name back to 1701 but, while we know our source of the name because we adopted it, we’re no nearer finding the actual source.

Are there any other Ferberds out there?

In 1967 my father’s chances of finding other Ferberds was limited given that searches were entirely manual.  The arrival of the internet allowed us to look further, but we came up with little, even after 15 years presence on Ancestry.co.uk.  Then we had the two contacts that I mentioned earlier.  But the Ferberd pool still looked extremely shallow.  Sheila found some possible sources which we’ll talk about  later.   Wondering how much more evidence might have been digitised since we last looked, I decided to do a fresh search on Find My Past, including the powerful variant forms function they have, and the results were quite surprising. After de-duplication there was (originally) a total of 74 entries and 38 (51%) of them were Ferberd. (See Appendix I for the full list.)

Note:  Since the table was complied a lot of the entries have been proved to be transcription errors. most often for Herbert.

Ferberd and Variations

Close spellings such as Ferbert are treated as synonyms of Ferberd
NameTotalsFairbeardFerberdOther
Ferberd2020
Fairbeard1919
Farberd11
Farrbert11
Fearbeard11
Ferbert1313
Fherbert44
Fierbert11
Forbert66
Forbord22
Fourburt11
Furbert55
Total74203816
Percentages27%51%22%

There are no Ferberd Buswells in the Barrett or Sessions family trees – is this a missing link?

One of the newly discovered users of Ferberd  is the Buswell family. How did they come about the Ferberd name?  Is there another historical thread?  Well, quite by chance while I was de-duplicating the list to create a single entry for each person, I saw an 1851 Census entry for Ferberd Barrett b 1829 in Kingston Bagpuize, one of the top locations for our Barrett line.  However, this Ferberd Barrett is a member of the Sessions tree.  When I looked at the transcription I was surprised to see an entry for Richard Buswell.  There are no Buswells in the Barrett or Sessions family trees – is this a missing link? Given that Ferberd and Richard are both medical students, is Richard a university friend?  Are they studying at Oxford and spending the Easter break in nearby Kingston Bagpuize?

 

The
 

 

It’s Richard’s son who is the entry on the list for Ferberd Buswell b 1864.  Sheila has investigated this connection and her findings are here.  In summary it looks as though the Buswells did borrow the name from Ferberd Barrett (Sessions family) and as Ferberd Buswell had no children that’s as far as it went.

There is bound to be some data missing from the results.  Our own researches have shown that Herbert is a common transcription error for Ferberd.  But looking for bad transcriptions of Ferberd as Herbert would be a massive task given how common that name is.  There are 27,000 Herberts in the national records, just for Berkshire.

 

Ferberd as a Last Name

When searching old records it for first names it is always worthwhile looking  last names too, in case the the records have transposed the two, or because the name might have been used as either.  So I carried out another search on Find My Past for Ferberd as a last name.  This initially produced 11 results, so the use of Ferberd as a last name was clearly limited.  In fact, there were some entries where the first name was shown as “——” on the results page.  Clicking through to a few of them showed that they were not cases of Ferberd as a last name at all, but were cases of Ferberd as a first name.  Once they were excluded we were left with just 2 candidates:

 

 

Both are close to the Barrett heartlands!  And they show that the name dates back to 1667, although it then seems to disappear as a last name, while Fairbeard carries on (see below.)

 

Last Name Variants

Sheila had researched the variants and Fairbeard, Fyrebeard and Faiber had all been uncovered as possibilities.  I widened my search to include variants and the earliest record  was in the Berkshire Wills and Administrations  1508 – 1652 with entries for 1641, 1558 and 15731.  As you can see from the map mash-up, the three quoted locations are right in Barrett heartlands (the green highlighted villages being just a sample of the total.)  But what’s almost as interesting is the cross reference entry made in the document “See also Ferberd.”   It seems the record compilers viewed all of these as variant forms.

 


Update 26 Oct 2017

Sheila has conducted more research of the Berkshire records and has discovered more variants of Ferberd as a last name.  I have therefore split out the existing examples from Appendix I into a separate table so we have First and Last Name tables, and I have added the new finds to the Last Name table.

 

Can We Explain the Variant Forms?

Our family researches in the 19th and 20th Centuries show that names evolve or, depending on your point of view, are corrupted in several ways.

In the days when literacy was reserved for the clerics and clerks,  a lot depended on how they chose to spell what they heard which takes us to, what did they hear?  It’s understandable that an Oxford educated priest might phonetically spell a name in the wrong way based on a strong local accent.  Given that so many Ferberds / Ferberts / Fairbeards etc  came from Berkshire, I carried out a piece of very inexact science and asked people on the Berkshire Family History Society Facebook Group who were native Berkshirians (I’m not sure that’s a word but it’s better than Berks) for their opinions.  It was felt very likely that the Berkshire accent would indeed render most of the variants in a very similar way.  The final way that variant spellings might have occurred is barely legible, florid handwriting causing transcription errors, Herbert being a common one for Ferberd, as we saw earlier.

Where else is Ferberd used as a Last Name?

Previous theories about the origin of the name include:

  1. That it came over from Normandy at the time of the 1066 invasion
  2. That it’s of German origin

Quite by chance we came across some European leads on MyHeritage.com which may support one or both of these theories.

Action Points

Compare Stephanie Argent’s notes with John Evan’s Tree

There may be additional information in Stephanie’s notes that are not on John’s tree and these might provide further insights.  We also need to reconcile the conflicting views on the Sandra Lewis connection/non-connection.

Investigate the list of Ferberds

In particular, look  at Richard  and Ferberd Buswell [Done – see above]

Continue validation of the First Name list to see if there are any more red herrings

Investigate European Leads

Footnotes

1 This is probably the same record that Sheila discovered.

Appendix I

Hit List - Ferberd (as a first name)

You can sort the table using the column headers and there's a search box on the right.
The link on the record number (Column1) will open that person's record in the dedicated Ferberds tree which is where you should record any research results
Record & Tree LinkLast nameFirst nameCommentsVariationGenderBornDiedEventRecord setLocation
10BarrettFerberd (was Ferbert)This Ferbert as on 1881 census is our Ferberd married to Ellen. It's the census birth calculator that's got his birth year wrong. He is not related to the Sessions but to us.
Sheila Wheatley
------------------------------------------------
So the tree record has been deleted. But I will leave it here as a record of what we found
Paul Barrett
FerberdM184318811881 England, Wales & Scotland CensusLongworth, Faringdon, Berkshire, England
12BarrettThomas Paulin Ferberd SessionsThomas is the son of Charles W Sessions Barrett, a physician and surgeon who was born in Wallingford Berkshire. So. he is related to the Sessions Barretts

Sheila Wheatley
FerberdM18961896Leicestershire BaptismsHinckley, St Mary's, Leicestershire, England
14BarrettAlberta Kathleen Ferberd SessionsShe is the sister of Thomas paulin Ferberd Sessions Barrett and married an Evan B Clarke in 1919 at St. Martins London.
Have not found any Ferberd children

Sheila Wheatley
FerberdF18951919Westminster MarriagesSt Martin-In-The-Fields, Middlesex, England
17BarrettFerberd SAccording 10 the 1939 Register he was born on 27 February 1896 and he was Press Rep. However, I cannot find him on 1901 or 1911 censuses and no matter what I try cannot find a birth reference either.

Sheila Wheatley
FerberdM189719411941England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007Hampstead, London, England
19WardFerberd John PFerberd John Percival Ward is the son of Percival Ward and Kate Barrett of the Sessions Barrett line. Kate is the daughter of Ferberd Sessions Barrett, Surgeon.
see 1861 census

Sheila Wheatley
FerberdM188919851985England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007Stratton, Cornwall, England
20WrenchEmelia Georgiana FerberdOn 1851 census she is 3 years old. Parents are Thomas William Wrench, a rector and mother is Diana Maria Kirke.

Checked both FMP and Ancestry for Thomas' birth which I found but neither site had parents names so that became a dead end re the Ferberd link.
Her mother, Diane Kirke was the daughter of a John Kirke and mother was Ann ? no links found there either.

Emelia has an elder brother Edmund Mann Wrench who is a medical student*** but can't find him on subsequent censuses to see if he crossed paths with the Sessions medics.

*** Another medical student in the same time frame as Ferberd Sessions? Did someone ELSE borrow the name? Or is she in fact a relation of the Sessions family?

I just checked and she's not on the Sessions tree that John supplied us. So if she is related to the Sessions it'll be a new link for him.

Because I can't find her fathers parents names that is preventing me knowing if there is a Sessions link I think it's doubtful and could be a borrowed situation again but as there is no follow up re censuses we are stuck. Think this one needs to go on hold for now. I am happy to keep searching the list, like you, I can't forget it! Perhaps afterwards if we find any more Sessions links we can tell John.
FerberdF184818511851 England, Wales & Scotland CensusSaint Michael Cornhill, City of London, London, England
21AllenJoan Ferbert.Nothing much is adding up for this lady,
Found her death reference in Newport, Monmouthshire, 3rd Quarter 1995.
It gives her birth date of 15 Dec 1923.
Found birth reference at Bedwelty 4th Quarter 1923 volume 11a page 252. No father's name is given and her mother's surname is Davies, no first name given.
On 1939 register there is a Joan J Allen with Davies in brackets but different birth date.
Have tried all sorts of searches under mother's surname. Ferbert thrown in as first name. Nothing.
Then tried Ferbert as a surname, looking for a possible father and come up with a William Henry Furbert born 1895.
Other than that there is no proof of anything.
FerbertF15 Dec 1923Q3 19951995England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007Newport (Monmouthshire), Monmouthshire, Wales
22ChallenerAnn FerbertBaptised 17 Jan 1800 at Clutton, Somerset. She was daughter of William Challener and a Mary but no surname entered for mother.
Investigated possible marriages of William and Mary within a relevant timeline and found William Challener was married to Mary Hooley on 4 Jan 1792 @ Chester.

Moving on to William's birth, found 2 possibilities:
William born 1766 @ Tutbury, Staffordshire and William born 1768 @ Birmingham. Both Williams have a father William!
Found 12 possible birth dates for Mary Hooley between 1766 and 1775 but dismissed the last 5 as thought she would be too young Picked the 1771 date to investigate further as she was born at Chester, the daughter of James and Martha Gatley
Having investigating both William's back to 1630 and Mary's line back to a similar time, there is no sign of a Ferbert/Ferberd anywhere !
My conclusion is that this must be an example, yet again, of the name being borrowed, but where from, there is no clue.
There are 6 more Mary Hooleys to investigate but have taken 3 afternoons on this already so will shelve for now.
The other ones to investigate are:
1766 Cheshire daughter of William and Ann
1768 Cheshire d of Thomas and Martha Hurlbutt
1768 Cheshire d of James and Mary Hulse
1770 Cheshire d of John and Phoebe Norburg or Norbury
1771 Macclesfield d of Jonathan and Betty Boyer
1772 Leicester d of William and Elizabeth

Sheila Wheatley
FerbertF1800Somerset Baptism IndexClutton, Somerset, England
23ClarkHerbert (was Ferbert)Paul found him on 1911 census.What origins of that name appear in his family?

No birth record found under that name. Back to census to look at image and it is unmistakably Ferbert on image when compared to the way 'f' and 'h' is written.
tried a birth search under 'Herbert' and found he was baptised 11 July 1886 and the parents names match with the census.
'Herbert' married Ellen Kinsey in 1916 and their first born was named Herbert l Clarke. have not gone any further forward in the line.
Now to go backwards to see if the name occurs earlier in the family
His father was Edward and his mother was Margaret Ellen? Edward possibly married a Margaret Ellen James 4th quarter 1877 but both their birth years are way out on the census and finding accurate birth's difficult.
Checked the 1861 census as nearest Edward's birth and found that he was born 1857 and father was William Clarke and mother Maria both born in Ireland. Found a marriage for them in 1851 in Kildare and nearly fell off my chair when noticed that Maria's surname was HACKETT!!!!
it is difficult to find a birth date for William as there are so many William Clarkes plus birth years are so out on the census.
Found Maria's baptism date of 15 May 1826, her father was Jacob Hackett and mother Joanna Kelly but possible marriage dates were not tying up with names.
Jacobus Hackett was baptised 12 Dec 1795 and his father was Walterio(bit of a Latin influence here!) and mother's name was Maria
All information gets a bit fuzzy here and so yet we have another Ferbert we don't have any more info on.
Just as an amusing observation,it wouldn't surprise me, judging by the other weird Irish/Latin names found, if Ferberdus or Ferbertus had an Irish origin!!!
Paul:

I think we have to put this down to another Herbert masquerading as a Ferbert and leave it at that. e
HerbertM189019111911 Census For England & WalesBilston, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England
24FishlockHerbert George (was Ferbert)No births registered under name Ferbert.
1911 census gives:
1, Herbert George Fishlock born approx 1904 at Stoke Newington. father is William Herbert and on
the image his name is definitely spelt with an 'H' so he is a Herbert not a Ferbert.

2. Herbert Fishlock born approx 1908 at Potterne, Wiltshire. His father is George.
On the image his name is definitely spelt with an 'H' so he is a Herbert not a Ferbert.

Sheila Wheatley
---------------------------------
Tree record deleted. This entry retained for record purposes
HerbertM1908National School Admission Registers & Log-Books 1870-1914Potterne, Wiltshire, England
25GriffinFerbertFrom the Ferberd list, numbers 25 and 26
25 Ferbert Griffin
26 John Ferbert Griffin

It wasn't hard to realise that these two were related so they have been investigated together.

Great! I thought, there is a family connection!The reality being, however, that these two have tried my patience and almost made me lose the plot!!
Found on the 1841 census Ferbert with his parents, John and Mary and younger brother George. They were living in High St Marcham, close to Ferberdland.
On 1851 census they are still in Marcham and there are 4 more siblings. the censuses give all their birth places as Marcham. But I can't find the parents marriage or any of their births.
Moving on to the 1871 census, Ferbert is now living in Vauxhall St Lambeth, London and Surrey.
His wife's name is Sarah Elizabeth, born in Middx and there are 5 children the youngest being John Ferbert age 3 and all born in Surrey. And this is basically all I can find about them, All census have been checked, birth and marriages searched for with all possible spellings of names. Have also checked parish cd's of course Marcham had to have the most inefficient records going.
So is this another case of them hearing the name because of the area and or knowing our lot or the Sessions. The Griffin's were Agricultural labourers.

Paul: So that's good, another local borrowing is good because it narrows down the channels into the past. So I know it's been frustrating but it's progress.
FerbertM183718411841 England, Wales & Scotland CensusMarcham, Abingdon Union, Berkshire, England
26GriffinJohn FerbertFrom the Ferberd list, numbers 25 and 26
25 Ferbert Griffin
26 John Ferbert Griffin

It wasn't hard to realise that these two were related so they have been investigated together.

Great! I thought, there is a family connection!The reality being, however, that these two have tried my patience and almost made me lose the plot!!
Found on the 1841 census Ferbert with his parents, John and Mary and younger brother George. They were living in High St Marcham, close to Ferberdland.
On 1851 census they are still in Marcham and there are 4 more siblings. the censuses give all their birth places as Marcham. But I can't find the parents marriage or any of their births.
Moving on to the 1871 census, Ferbert is now living in Vauxhall St Lambeth, London and Surrey.
His wife's name is Sarah Elizabeth, born in Middx and there are 5 children the youngest being John Ferbert age 3 and all born in Surrey. And this is basically all I can find about them, All census have been checked, birth and marriages searched for with all possible spellings of names. Have also checked parish cd's of course Marcham had to have the most inefficient records going.
So is this another case of them hearing the name because of the area and or knowing our lot or the Sessions. The Griffin's were Agricultural labourers.

Paul: So that's good, another local borrowing is good because it narrows down the channels into the past. So I know it's been frustrating but it's progress.
FerbertM186818731873England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007Lambeth, London, England
27HumphreyHerbert (was Ferbert)Baptism record shows his father is George and mother Sarah.
Couldn't find Ferbert on 1871 census so looked for George. it is quite clear on the view original screen that he is another Herbert. The 'H' is definitely an 'H'
----------------------------
Tree record deleted. This not has been, for record purposes
HerbertM1867England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975North Wootton, Norfolk, England
28MarzsColin FerbertBorn 1934 left UK for USA 1946

Cannot find baptism record so no idea of parents' names.
Can't find on passenger lists either.
Tried USA marriages and deaths.
FerbertM19341946Passenger Lists Leaving Uk 1890-1960USA, Sea Ports, United States
29NichollsFerbert FFerbert F Nicholls was found on 1871 census, the 4th child of Samuel J Nicholls a Chief Constable in Newcastle Upon Tyne but born in Wiltshire.
Samuel James was found on the 1841 census and is the son of John Nicholls.
John Nicholls is a SURGEON - Farmer. Found on medical directory : John Nicholls of Shrewton House, Wiltshire, M.R.C.S. + L.S.A. a member of the MRCS since 1832.
Ferberd Sessions Barrett was a member from 1842.
What's the betting they new each other!!! It's got to be the connection, there doesn't seem to be any other.
NB. Can't remember which on now but either Ferberd Barrett or John S. Barrett had a midwife qualification.

Sheila Wheatley
---------------------------------------
Given that probable link, is it also likely that Ferbert is also a transcription error. Surely they would have got the spelling right?

Paul Barrett
FerbertM187018711871 England, Wales & Scotland CensusJesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England
30PearceThomas FerbertFound his birth reference easily but because it is only on the Civil List and can't be found in Parish baptisms, am unable to find birth parents. It is a West Bromwich reference.
A West Brom marriage reference was found for a Thomas Pearce and a Mary Fellows in 1915. The censuses are not particularly helpful as there aren't any West Bromwich references, although a few other places in Staffordshire.
Think will have to bite the bullet tomorrow and try out the new certificate ordering link from GRO.
without his parents names and origins it becomes a stab in the dark.
----------------------------------------
Update: 20 Nov 2017
His birth certificate has come through and he was born in West Bromwich Union Workhouse 18 Dec1880 to Sarah Ann Pearce a domestic. His father's name is not given. At present can't find anything else about him.
---------------------------------------
Update - Paul 20 Nov 2017
This is intriguing. How does someone born in the Union Workhouse come to acquire such a name? Everything we, sorry, you have found so far goes against this being just a spontaneous choice. I mean we only have a total of 79 Ferberds in 300 years. Where the hell did she get it from? She can't have plucked it out of thin air! There HAS to be a story behind this doesn't there doesn't there?
FerbertM18801880England & Wales Births 1837-2006West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England
31TijouHerbert (was Ferbert Edward)He's a Herbert, as other search results for Herbert Tijou will showHerbertM1877Manchester Rate Books 1706-1900Lancashire, England
32WalterHerbert (was Ferbert)Another HerbertHerbertM1909Passenger Lists Leaving Uk 1890-1960New York, United States
33WilkinsonFerbert EliThe birth record image from British India Office Ecclesiastical returns is quite clear. He is definitely a Ferbert.
His father was Eli and mother Catherine, though can't find marriage record.
ELI was born in India in 1855, his father was a Colour Sergeant. His father is Joseph and mother Catherine.
Joseph's father is John according to the 1841 census.
Nothing has been found to show where his name came from. Another isolated incident?
Is the link the army? Didn't we have another Ferbert/Ferberd who was a doctor in India? Unfortunately I can't find him in the list any more and can't find anything in my handwritten notes.
Paul: It was Ferberd Buswell, and I have entered him here and on the Ferberd Tree
FerbertM18791879British India Office Births & BaptismsAllahabad, Bengal
34HawksworthJohn Herbert (was John Fherbert)Found on the 1911 census.
I believe the 1911 census is the first one that the forms are completed by individuals.
John Hawksworth's writing is very clear he is another Herbert.
HerbertM187919111911 Census For England & WalesSheffield, Yorkshire, England
35KingHerbert (was Fherbert) JLooking at the original 1939 register image, he is 'Herbert' plain and simple.
Birth record has Herbert J.
HerbertM191219391939 RegisterSolihull U.D., Warwickshire, England
36BartSir T FairbardT. Fairbard Burt
Found in Manchester Rate books 1893 as owner of a property. Tenant/occupier was Paul Susman.
The information in the rate book suggests T. Fairbard Bart's title is 'Sir'
Can't find him in BMD's or censuses, so no idea.
FairbeardM1893Manchester Rate Books 1706-1900Lancashire, England
37BatesonWilliam FairbeardWilliam was baptised 19 Feb 1856 but his birth year was 1855. His father was Richard and his mother was Betsey nee Swinburne.
Unfortunately, William died in 1859, which was why he couldn't be found on the 1861 census.

There is a relationship here with the Carr's and the Swinburne's, which may take a little time to investigate. Will be interesting to see how it pans out.
FairbeardM185518591855England & Wales Births 1837-2006Bury, Lancashire, England
38CarrFairbeard38. Fairbeard Carr born 1751 is the son of Richard Carr and Elizabeth Swinburn. Elizabeth Swinburn's father was:

52. Fairbeard Swinburn born 1704. His father was Thomas.

None of this reveals where they got the name Fairbeard.
FairbeardM17511751Yorkshire BaptismsLinton in Craven, Yorkshire (West Riding), England
39CarrRobert Fairbeard Alexander39. Robert Fairbeard Alexander Carr born 1814 and:
53. Robert Fairbeard Alexander Swinburn born 1813.
Put their details in the FMP search for births and the same details come up for both. father being Richard Swinburn Carr or Richard Swinbourn and Mary Carr or Mary Swinburn.
Putting both names in census search brings nothing. in burial records a Robert Fairbeard Alexander Carr died in 1888 age 74.
They must be the same person. the baptism date is the same 22 Apr 1813. But on 1841 census in Richard's household we already have Robert Carr mentioned above born 1816. They must all be the same person. Very confusing.
FairbeardM181418881888England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, England
40CarrRobert Fairbeard1891 census gives his father's name as Robert C Carr b 1864 mother is Martha.
1871 census gives Robert C. Carr's father as Robert Carr born
Westmoreland 1814 mother Frances born 1821.
1841 census gives Robert Carr's father as Richard Swinburn Carr born 1780 Tunstall, Lancs. Mother is Mary.
Richard's father is Fairbeard Carr(38) born 1751 Linton in Crawley.
FairbeardM188919391939 RegisterUlverston R.D., Lancashire, England
41DownhamRobert Alexander FairbeardHis forenames being what they are must be a clue to a connection with the Carr's and Swinburne's already investigated.
As it turns out his father was John Downham who married Hannah Carr 2nd quarter of 1840.
Her parents most probably are Robert Carr and his wife Hannah though couldn't find marriage.
if these were her parents, Hannah Carr Downham was baptised 1821.
Another possibility is that she was born in 1819 to Joseph and Jane Carr but gut feeling is Robert and Hannah.
Either way, the investigation halts here because there are no obvious dots to link Hannah with the Carr's already investigated because the timeline doesn't correspond. There must be a link maybe through cousins or siblings that cannot be found no matter what research line is tried. There are rather a LOT of Carr's it seems, as bad as Smiths!
FairbeardM186018781878Yorkshire BurialsIngleton, Yorkshire (West Riding), England
42ElyWilliam FairbeardFound his baptism date of 7 Jan 1843 Faversham Kent.His mother was Ann Siretta but no details of his father given.
Checked 1851 census which revealed nothing.
Searched parish burials to find that sadly' he died before his first birthday and was buried on 20 April 1843.
Tried searching for his mother but nothing found.
FairbeardM18421842England & Wales Births 1837-2006Faversham, Kent, England
46GarlandFrederick Garland FairbeardFrederick was baptised 29 Dec 1822. His mother was Ann Garland.
There's no trace of Frederick on the 1841 census or 1851 census.
Ann was baptised 28 June 1795, the daughter of William and Mary Garland of Throwley, Kent
There's no evidence of an early death for Frederick.
No other info found
FairbeardM1822England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975Throwley, Kent, England
47HallsworthWilliam FairbairdBorn 19 Jan 1835 and baptised 20 Jan 1835. Thought that might suggest he was poorly but can't find a burial record.
his parents were Thomas and Isabella. Cannot find any other information.
FairbeardM18351835England & Wales Non-Conformist Births And BaptismsNorth Shields, Northumberland, England
48LambDavid FairbairdAnother dead end I'm afraid. His death record is 1992 and this also gives a birth date of 5 July 1932. This doesn't tally with anything. Found 2 David Lambs birth dates 1931 mother's name a) Conlan b) Richardson no first names and no father's name given. The 1939 register wasn't helpful and neither were Wills and Probate.

Extra information for David Fairbeard Lamb.
When doing a general search for Robert Fairbeard Alexander Lowe, found a marriage of a Thomas Lamb to Elizabeth Carr back in 1865 so he must be descended from them
FairbeardM193219921992England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007Lambeth, London, England
49LoweRobert Fairbeard Alexander Carr Born 12 Nov 1872 at Hindpool, Ulverston. His father was William Lowe and his mother was Mary Ann formerly CARR.
He died 19 May 1874 of pneumonia following measles.
FairbeardM12 Nov 187219 May 18741874England Deaths & Burials 1538-1991Dalton-In-Furness, Lancashire, England
50NorfolkeFairbeardHe was baptised 16 May 1731 @ Holborn, London.
Parents William And Mary though can't find marriage.
William was possibly born in Nottinghamshire 1702 father Leonard. Other than that no further information found.
FairbeardM1731England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975Holborn, London, England
52SwinbornFairbeardDuplicate - see Fairbeard Swinburne

38. Fairbeard Carr born 1751 is the son of Richard Carr and Elizabeth Swinburn. Elizabeth Swinburn's father was:

52. Fairbeard Swinburn born 1704. His father was Thomas.

None of this reveals where they got the name Fairbeard.
FairbeardM170417921704England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975London, England
53SwinburnRobert Fairbeard AlexanderDuplicate of Robert Fairbeard Alexander CarrFairbeardM1813England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmorland, England
54SwinburneFairbeardThis appears to be a duplicate with an alternative last name spelling of Record 52 so I will delete that record from the tree. But this note remains here, to keep the record straight.
Paul Barrett
30 Oct 2017
FairbeardM170417921792National Burial Index For England & WalesIpswich, Suffolk, England
55SessionsFarberdRe Farberd Sessions number 55 on the chart and Fairbeard Sisons number 57 on the chart.
Am convinced these are one in the same person AND just a mis-spelling of FERBERT SESSIONS.
So this refers back to the original Sessions' Ferbert, the son of William Sessions and Frances FAIRBEARD'
All information I am finding researching 55 and 57 points very much to this conclusion
FarberdM170217861786Berkshire Burial IndexAppleton, Berkshire, England
56Styles
Elizabeth FarrbertDeath Certificate gives birth date of 3 Sept 1908.
1939 Register
Found Elizabeth Styles same birth date married to John Styles born 19 Apr 1904.
Marriage found for a John Styles to Elizabeth F Bigelow 3rd Q 1928 V 8b page 1148 West derby Lancashire.
Birth found for Elizabeth Farrbirtt Bigelow. Her parents were John Oliver Bacon Bigelow!! and Annie Paton.
John's father was William Henry Bigelow and mother Margaret but can't find marriage.
Annie Paton's father was John and mother Ann. John Paton was possibly born in Ireland about 1837 and mother possibly was Annie Kie born in Scotland but it gets a bit hazy here and no further forward in knowing where the name Farrbert comes from!
FarrbertF19 Apr 190419891989England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007Liverpool, Lancashire, England
57SisonsFearbeardRe Farberd Sessions number 55 on the chart and Fairbeard Sisons number 57 on the chart.
Am convinced these are one in the same person AND just a mis-spelling of FERBERT SESSIONS.
So this refers back to the original Sessions' Ferbert, the son of William Sessions and Frances FAIRBEARD'
All information I am finding researching 55 and 57 points very much to this conclusion
FearbeardM1701England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975Cumnor, Berkshire, England
58ArnoldHerbert (was Fherbert) WFherbert is a Herbert.HerbertM187619391939 RegisterHornsey M.B., Middlesex, England
59WindleHerbert (was Fherbert)This Fherbert is also a Herbert.HerbertM190819391939 RegisterSheffield C.B., Yorkshire (West Riding), England
60WorsleyRalph Herbert (was Fierbert)Description: Found his death record on FMP as Leigh Lancashire Q.2. volume 8c page 163.
But, FMP was not showing a birth record within a reasonable timescale, whichever way round his first names were entered or Fierbert replaced with Herbert and search widened.
Tried Ancestry:
They came up with a Herbert Ralph Worsley born Leigh 4th Q. 1871 volume 8c page 198.
AND:
Ralph Herbert Worsley baptised May 1874 at Wigan, a stone's throw from Leigh.
Am thinking he could have been in hospital in Wigan and baptised before he died, the timing being right.
Then I notice that the actual parish register is viewable and find:
An entry for Ralph Herbert Worsley baptised May 1874 but born June 1871?!
Now, the way Herbert is written in the record could be easily be read as Fierbert, but checking against the other 'H's on the page, he is definitely a Herbert. Probably our lad as if he was born in June 1871 and died in May 1874 he would have been recorded as being 2 years old.' His father is Robert Worsley, a 'Gentleman'. This is the only evidence that fits the bill.
HerbertMJun 1871May 18741874England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007Leigh, Lancashire, England
61CobbingsForbertHe came up on 1911 census as living with the Green family and listed as adopted. This particular 1911 census image is not entirely legible which is unusual for that time. I cannot decipher his first name it could be anything. doing a birth search for a Forbert Cobbings reveals nothing on either site. Have tried Herbert, Albert and Alfred and Ferbert and nothing comes up!

[Paul: Could it be Robert?]
ForbertM191019111911 Census For England & WalesTeddington, Kingston, Surrey, England
62DooleyFrances Forbert Found death reference which didn't give much information.
Tried 1861 census and found:
1.Frances Dooley age 54 single , lodger in Bromley, Kent. Born in Ireland 1807
2. Francis Dooley born 1819 in Ireland living in Liverpool at time of census.
Searched Irish records with not much success. Found a Francis Dooly born 1821, Limmerick, father Mauce or possibly Maurice and mother Mary Hann, Cannot find their marriage. No evidence regarding the Forbert name.
ForbertF18641864England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007West Derby, Lancashire, England
63ForkanRobert (was Forbert) FrancisTranscription error. His name is Robert. Record deleted from tree

Paul 30 Oct 2017
RobertM19681968England & Wales Births 1837-2006Islington, London, England
64NorthRobertHe is Robert not Forbert. The passenger list transcription is typed not handwritten and is very clear that his name
is Robert. Someone must have had a funny 5 minutes when they copied the name over!
RobertM19081953Passenger Lists Leaving Uk 1890-1960New York, United States
65PearsonWilliam ForbertBorn 27 May 1891 @ Pately Bridge, Yorkshire.
1901 census shows his parents are James and Sophia Elizabeth Pearson James is an Insurance Agent.
James and Sophia Inman were married 1st Quarter 1889.
Interestingly, on the 1901 census, William has a younger brother called Herbert. So that must mean that Forbert is an actual name or derived from Ferbert etc.
Unfortunately, cannot go backwards as most of the Pearson records are Civil records and not Parish so don't give parents names.Did a wild search and James' father could have been a William and his grandfather a Thomas but speculation.
This is purely an observation but, given James was an Insurance Agent and lives in Yorkshire where we have investigated a few Ferbert's, could the name have been picked up from clients?
There is a death record for William Forbert Pearson who died on 20 August 1916. He was in 2nd battalion Royal Sussex Regiment and is buried at Adanuc Military Cemetery at Mitaumont.
I know it's him because his parent's names and his place of birth are given
ForbertM18911891England & Wales Births 1837-2006Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, England
66RushworthGeorge Forbert1911 census is interesting:
There is George Forbert Rushworth born 1896 and a younger sister Elizabeth Fawbert Rushworth born 1898.
father is William a plasterer and mother Sarah Ann Barker.
The 1911 census image shows that the F is clear.
Don't know where the Forbert Fawbert names come from!!! There's nothing in parents or grandparents names to suggest anything. Are we in Borrowed Land again?!
ForbertM189619111911 Census For England & WalesLeeds, Yorkshire, England
67DugdaleMaria ForbordFound her on 3 electoral Registers for 2014
1. Shepperton age guide 35 - 39
2. Bristol age guide 35 - 39
3, Penrith Cumberland same age group with a Matthew Brannon

Birth searches under Maria F Dugdale find nothing. Dugdale must be her married name and am not getting anything searching for a Maria Forbord blank surname or Maria Forbord.
Sorry. too modern to investigate further.
ForbordF2014Uk Electoral Registers 2002-2014Shepperton, Middlesex, England
69McKoyFourburt CFound marriage of a Fourbert C McKoy May 1993 to a Johnette P Lynch (that's what it says).
Can't find birth within an estimated time scale or on Electoral Registers.
FourburtM1993England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005Haringey, London, England
70BachelorFrank Herbert (was Furbert) FrederickFrank Furbert Frederick Bachelor Baptised 1905 Oldbury Worcestershire:
Found the baptism record in Civil baptisms:
baptised 22 Feb 1905 at age of 3 weeks, so born about 2 Feb 1905.
Parents Richard and Elizabeth.

1911 census shows R and E in Oldbury with a very large family. He has entered every living and dead child and there is no F.F.F, but a Herbert listed as dead.
Tried Burial records:
Found a Herbert Frank F. Bachelor death 3 quarter 1906 at west Browwich.
So did another birth search and came up with:
Furburt F.F. Bachelor born 1st quarter 1905 West Bromwich.
The 1911 census gives Richard's birth year as 1864 and found a Richard Herbert Bachelor born 9 Jun 1864 but not baptised until 1866, in Hammersmith, his father is William a labourer.

Now, what do you think? Shall we take Frank Furbert Frederick as being Herbert or shall I order the birth and death certificates of the ones with the names in a different order to see what we get?
I admit to being a wee bit curious but would appreciate your feed back before i do any thing.
----------------------------------
I think Frank Furbert Frederick is a Herbert and I would hesitate to spend money on it but it IS intriguing isn't it?

Paul
HerbertMAbt 02 Feb 1905Q3 19061905England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975Oldbury, Worcestershire, England
72Brown (Brann)Eliza Ann FurbertOn 1901 census she is Eliza Ann Furbert (possible Turbert) but Brown not Brann on census image. Her father was Joseph Hill Brown and mother Mary possibly Mary Rebekka Twigg but unreliable,
Joseph Hill Brown was baptised 8 Jul 1860 the son of James Brown a Stone Mason and Elizabeth ?
James was baptised 17 Sep 1820 the son of Thomas Brown and Susannah Haigh. Susannah is daughter of Joseph Haigh and Elizabeth Waude whose grandfather was George and grandmother also a Susannah.
here it gets hazy as there are so many Thomas Browns' it would take me a week to investigate all properly.
I did find a Thomas Brown who was the son of a George Brown an apothecary and Surgeon but there is nothing substantial to prove the link to our Thomas. Would James Brown a Mason be the grandson of a surgeon?

Paul:
> Would James Brown a Mason be the grandson of a surgeon?
It's a possibility isn't it. Unlikely but a possibility.
FurbertF188219011901 England, Wales & Scotland CensusCastleford, Pontefract, Yorkshire, England
73BurdenFurbert1891 census image is a bit baffling.. His name looks like Furbert or Fulbert, but the 'F' doesn't match the way other 'f,s' on page a written nor does it resemble the way an 'H' is written.
There is only one Birth record for Pontypridd and that is for a Herbert Burden born 4th quarter of 1890 so another Herbert not Furbert!
Herbert
M189118911891 England, Wales & Scotland CensusYstradyfodwg, Pontypridd, Glamorganshire, Wales
74WilkinsonTimothy FurbertTimothy Fubert Wilkinson is a prime example of the mother's surname (maiden, family name) being used as a second name for her son. This gets interesting as the name spelling changes throughout the research.
Timothy Fawbert Wilkinson was baptised 10 Oct 1849. The record doesn't give birth date but it's believed to have been 1843 on 1881 census. He was the son of William Wilkinson and Nancy FAUBOT.
Timothy married Hannah Mathews in 1867 and he died in 1903,
Nancy FAWBOT was baptised 7 May 1817 the daughter of Timothy FAWBERT and Maria Rodley who married 21 Mar 1810 Bradford Yorks.
Timothy FAWBERT was baptised 18 Jun 1788 son of John FAWBERT and Ann Gibson, married 24 Jan 1777.
They had many children and John must have had brothers because many children were found in this period to about 3 separate pairs of parents. Too numerous to add here. but with 2 of John and Ann's children, their surnames were spelt FAWBERD. One poor child was named Pharoah Fawbert!!!
John FAWBERT was baptised 13 Mar 1751 son of James FAWBERT and Elizabeth Winterbourne married 11 Feb 1747. Found 4 children to them.
James FAWBERT was born about 1725 but couldn't find him in Yorkshire and there were only 3 results and found
a James FURBER baptised 30 Jun 1723 son of Robert FURBER but in Somerset.
It now becomes a little uncertain because the only Robert FURBER found was a Robert FORBER baptised in Norfolk in 1685, He was son of a John FORCER who married Alice Noble in Durham!
Looking for John's birth there is one possibility of a John FAWBER born 10 Jan 1655 and we are back in Yorkshire now. It is too confusing to go farther back but the interesting thing here to note when trying to go back further was that surnames like Fairber, Fairbere and Fairbeard were found but not possible to connect to this research.

Sheila 20 Nov 2017
-----------------
I'm wondering if there is sufficient difference between Ferberd and Faubot and its successors for us to discount this as a true version of Ferberd. What do you think?

Paul 20 Nov 2017
------------------
In answer to your message. It could well be the original format of Ferberd, especially as the name changes spelling so much in the research that we get Fawberd etc.
It comes down again to interpretation of accents and spelling doesn't it so it's hard to be sure.

Sheila 20 Nov 2017
-----------------
So the jury remains out on this one. However, if Faubout was to turn out to be the original spelling of the word or another variant then, with all the prior generations and spellings, there would be a few more people to add to the Ferberd Tree!

Paul 20 Nov 2017
FurbertM184318811881 England, Wales & Scotland CensusBowling, Bradford, Yorkshire, England
75BuswellFerberd RHis story is documented in this postFerberdM18641871 England, Wales & Scotland CensusLoughborough Villas, Loughborough Road, Brixton, London, England

Appendix II

Hit List - Ferberd (as a last name)

You can sort the table using the column headers and there's a search box on the right.
The link on the record number (Column1) will open that person's record in the dedicated Ferberds tree which is where you should record any research results
Record & Tree LinkLast nameFirst nameCommentsVariationGenderBornDiedRecord setLocation
1FairbeardThomasThomas Fairbeard Fairbeard born 1714
John Fairbeard Fairbeard born 1716
William Fairbeard Fairbeard born 1718
These 3 are numbers 1 - 3 on the surname list.
They are brothers and all are sons of Thomas Fairbeard and Mary Attwood.
Having gone back through their line to 1640 and great grandfather's time there doesn't appear to be anyone else with the double Fairbeard in their name.
Couldn't find Great grandfather's marriage or baptism. Given the historical period perhaps records were not kept fully.
Think the double use of name is a clerical error,or misunderstanding, although strange that all brothers had the extra name No sign of any Ferberds' either.
FairbeardMKent, Canterbury Archdeaconry Baptisms 1538-1912Challock, Ss Cosmas & Damian, Kent, England
2FairbeardJohnThomas Fairbeard Fairbeard born 1714
John Fairbeard Fairbeard born 1716
William Fairbeard Fairbeard born 1718
These 3 are numbers 1 - 3 on the surname list.
They are brothers and all are sons of Thomas Fairbeard and Mary Attwood.
Having gone back through their line to 1640 and great grandfather's time there doesn't appear to be anyone else with the double Fairbeard in their name.
Couldn't find Great grandfather's marriage or baptism. Given the historical period perhaps records were not kept fully.
Think the double use of name is a clerical error,or misunderstanding, although strange that all brothers had the extra name No sign of any Ferberds' either.
FairbeardMKent, Canterbury Archdeaconry Baptisms 1538-1912Challock, Ss Cosmas & Damian, Kent, England
3FairbeardWilliamThomas Fairbeard Fairbeard born 1714
John Fairbeard Fairbeard born 1716
William Fairbeard Fairbeard born 1718
These 3 are numbers 1 - 3 on the surname list.
They are brothers and all are sons of Thomas Fairbeard and Mary Attwood.
Having gone back through their line to 1640 and great grandfather's time there doesn't appear to be anyone else with the double Fairbeard in their name.
Couldn't find Great grandfather's marriage or baptism. Given the historical period perhaps records were not kept fully.
Think the double use of name is a clerical error,or misunderstanding, although strange that all brothers had the extra name No sign of any Ferberds' either.
FairbeardMKent, Canterbury Archdeaconry Baptisms 1538-1912Challock, Ss Cosmas & Damian, Kent, England
3FerberdThomasRecord added, based on evidence from daughter's baptism - see next row)FerberdMEst 1675
4FerberdElizabethElizabeth Ferberd was baptised 28 July 1700 @ Dilton Wiltshire.
Note on record states that surname is spelt Firbeard in register but Ferberd in Bishop's Transcripts.
Her father was Thomas. Cannot find a birth or marriage that identifies him. He could have married in London or Kent.
Elizabeth was buried 25 Sept 1729 at Dilton and surname is spelt Fierbeard.
Thomas was buried 3 Apr 1758 at Dilton and the surname is spelt Fierbeard..
FerberdF1700Wiltshire Baptisms Index 1530-1917Dilton, Wiltshire, England
5Ferberd (Faierbard)ThomasBuried 4 Oct 1667 at St,Laurence, Reading.
Records state he was a Trouper.

He may have been baptised 25 May 1652 in Mersham Kent the son of Thomas and Elizabeth.
This would make him approximately 19 when he died.
I say 'may have been baptised' as there is no real proof, This is the only record that comes up in a reasonable time scale but have to be wary because the name is spelt Faierbard.
Cannot find any further information regarding his parents.
FerberdM25 May 1652 ?04 Oct 1667Berkshire Burial Index TranscriptionSt Laurence, Reading, Berkshire
6FerberdUnknownThe existence of this person is inferred from his children. There is no evidence to corroborate.

Further investigations revealed no other evidence either so this record has been deleted from the tree and timeline but this table record is left in place as a reminder for the future.
FerberdMEst 1515Abingdon, Berkshire, England
7FerebredUnknownThe existence of this person is inferred from his children. There is no evidence to corroborate.

Further investigations revealed no other evidence either so this record has been deleted from the tree and timeline but this table record is left in place as a reminder for the future.
FerberdMEst 1525Stanford in the Vale, Berkshire, England
8FerberdRichard9 Dec 2017
Nothing more can be found
FerberdMEst 1540Abingdon, Berkshire, England
9FerebredRose9 Dec 2017
Nothing more can be found
FerberdFEst 1550Stanford in the Vale, Berkshire, England
10FerberdEline (Elne)9 Dec 2017
First name is spelt Eline in parish record.
Nothing more to be found
FerberdF15661566Abingdon, Berkshire, England
11Ferberd (Fayrbeard)Harre9 Dec 2017
Know he is son of Richard and brother to Eline but nothing more can be found.
FairbeardM1569Abingdon, Berkshire, England
12Ferebred Jone 9 Dec 2017
Nothing more can be found
FerberdFEst 15721582Stanford in the Vale, Berkshire, England
13FereberdHenry Henry is being awkward to investigate.
Am assuming he is the Henry Fereberd that is father of John(14) and Alexander(18).
But as previously written. Henry was married to an Ann.
The only marriage within a reasonable time frame is 'Henry Fearbeard to Joan Hoomer 31 Oct 1595 at Abingdon St. Helen's.
Unless she was Jo-anne or used Ann as a preferred name, then it all goes haywire!
Though this would be the perfect time frame for the birth of Elizabeth Fairbeard(recently found), daughter of Henry Fayerbeard born 1600 and sister of John and Alexander previously mentioned.
Am now wondering if the Harre Fayerbeard(11) is indeed him as birth year of 1569 is plausible as it would make him 26 at time of marriage to Joan a.k.a.Ann and 31 at Elizabeth's birth. It would neatly tie up to Richard joining a few dots.
But am very aware that this is all assumption but don't know what else to suggest.
FerberdMEst 1582Abingdon, Berkshire, England
14FairebeardJohn 9 Dec 2017
John Fairbeard or Fayrebeard lived at Fyfield but can't find any evidence of his being born there. Can't find birth or marriage in any of usual searches.
He had the following children:
John Fayrebeard baptised at Cumnor in 1613 and died in 1615
Frances Fayrebeard baptised at Fyfield 4 Feb 1615.
Robert Edwards baptised 11 June 1617 at Fyfield (the base born son of John on the body of Katherine Edwards)
Henrie Fayrebeard baptised 9 October 1617 at Fyfield.

That is all that can be found about any of them.
--------------------------------
The dates of Robert Edward and Henrie Fayrebeard overlap. I suppose Robert's Christening could have been delayed for a long time?

Paul
--------------------------------
Yes, it's possible. It doesn't help that the parish records don't give birth dates. On the other hand, John the father could have been putting it about in a time frame which makes the legitimate and illegitimate sons births overlap.
Sheila
FairbeardMEst 1590Fyfield, Berkshire, England
16Fereberd John 9 Dec 2017
John was baptised in 1603 at St. Helen's Abingdon.
His surname is spelt Fereberd in index but Fairbeard in parish record. Although the Parish record spells his father's surname as Fereberd.
The same occurs with his brother Alexander baptised in 1607. The only difference is that the mother's first name is included. So. they were the sons of Henry and Ann Fereberd.
No more information can be found for any of them.
FerberdM1603Abingdon, Berkshire, England
17FerbertHenry This DOB a wild guess based on the burial entry for his wife Joan in 1646FerberdMEst 1605Cumnor, Berkshire, England
18FereberdAlexander 9 Dec 2017
John was baptised in 1603 at St. Helen's Abingdon.
His surname is spelt Fereberd in index but Fairbeard in parish record. Although the Parish record spells his father's surname as Fereberd.
The same occurs with his brother Alexander baptised in 1607. The only difference is that the mother's first name is included. So. they were the sons of Henry and Ann Fereberd.
No more information can be found for any of them.
FerberdM1607Abingdon, Berkshire, England
19FairebeardJohn This is a duplicate of the next row. This row is kept for completenessFairbeardM1613Cumnor, Berkshire, England
20Fayrebeard John 9 Dec 2017
John Fairbeard or Fayrebeard lived at Fyfield but can't find any evidence of his being born there. Can't find birth or marriage in any of usual searches.
He had the following children:
John Fayrebeard baptised at Cumnor in 1613 and died in 1615
Frances Fayrebeard baptised at Fyfield 4 Feb 1615.
Robert Edwards baptised 11 June 1617 at Fyfield (the base born son of John on the body of Katherine Edwards)
Henrie Fayrebeard baptised 9 October 1617 at Fyfield.

That is all that can be found about any of them.
--------------------------------
The dates of Robert Edward and Henrie Fayrebeard overlap. I suppose Robert's Christening could have been delayed for a long time?

Paul
--------------------------------
Yes, it's possible. It doesn't help that the parish records don't give birth dates. On the other hand, John the father could have been putting it about in a time frame which makes the legitimate and illegitimate sons births overlap.
Sheila
FairbeardM1615Fyfield, Berkshire, England
21FayrebeardFrances 9 Dec 2017
John Fairbeard or Fayrebeard lived at Fyfield but can't find any evidence of his being born there. Can't find birth or marriage in any of usual searches.
He had the following children:
John Fayrebeard baptised at Cumnor in 1613 and died in 1615
Frances Fayrebeard baptised at Fyfield 4 Feb 1615.
Robert Edwards baptised 11 June 1617 at Fyfield (the base born son of John on the body of Katherine Edwards)
Henrie Fayrebeard baptised 9 October 1617 at Fyfield.

That is all that can be found about any of them.
--------------------------------
The dates of Robert Edward and Henrie Fayrebeard overlap. I suppose Robert's Christening could have been delayed for a long time?

Paul
--------------------------------
Yes, it's possible. It doesn't help that the parish records don't give birth dates. On the other hand, John the father could have been putting it about in a time frame which makes the legitimate and illegitimate sons births overlap.
Sheila
FairbeardF1618Fyfield, Berkshire, England
22FerbertStephen Apart from the burial records at Cumnor of Stephen, his wife and son in 1646, nothing else can be found.FerberdMEst 16161646Cumnor, Berkshire, England
23FayrebeardHenrie 9 Dec 2017
John Fairbeard or Fayrebeard lived at Fyfield but can't find any evidence of his being born there. Can't find birth or marriage in any of usual searches.
He had the following children:
John Fayrebeard baptised at Cumnor in 1613 and died in 1615
Frances Fayrebeard baptised at Fyfield 4 Feb 1615.
Robert Edwards baptised 11 June 1617 at Fyfield (the base born son of John on the body of Katherine Edwards)
Henrie Fayrebeard baptised 9 October 1617 at Fyfield.

That is all that can be found about any of them.
--------------------------------
The dates of Robert Edward and Henrie Fayrebeard overlap. I suppose Robert's Christening could have been delayed for a long time?

Paul
--------------------------------
Yes, it's possible. It doesn't help that the parish records don't give birth dates. On the other hand, John the father could have been putting it about in a time frame which makes the legitimate and illegitimate sons births overlap.
Sheila
FairbeardM1617Fyfield, Berkshire, England
24FerberdUnknownThe existence of this person is inferred from his children. There is no evidence to corroborate.

Further investigations revealed no other evidence either so this record has been deleted from the tree and timeline but this table record is left in place as a reminder for the future.
FerberdMEst 1625Oxfordshire, England
25FairbeardUnknownThe existence of this person is inferred from his children. There is no evidence to corroborate.

Further investigations revealed no other evidence either so this record has been deleted from the tree and timeline but this table record is left in place as a reminder for the future.
FairbeardMBet 1635 and 1655Oxfordshire, England
26FerbertThomas 9 Dec 2017
Thomas married Joan Thrift in 1657 at Cumnor.
Found a baptism for Joan in Cumnor parish records for 28 July 1628 the daughter of Edward. This makes her 29 when she married.
Cannot find anything more for Thomas.
FerberdMEst 1636Cumnor, Berkshire, England
27FerbertUnknown9 Dec 2017
He was a son of Stephen (I97) buried 1645. Nothing more can be found
FerberdMEst 16401645Cumnor, Berkshire, England
28FerberdHenry Henry Ferberd married a Jane or Joan Quailton. The records state that Henry is from Wodend and Jane from Cumnor.

9 Dec 2017
We already know Henry married Joan Quailton at South Hinksey in 1670,
Cannot find any further information on Henry but Joan was baptised 19 Oct 1650 at Cumnor, the daughter of Nicholas and Ann.

FerberdMEst 1650Wodend, Berkshire, England
29FairbeardFrances Mother of Ferbert Sessions. Is this where the crossover happened? Did Ferbert's father like his wife's name so much they adapted and adopted it for a first name? FairbeardFEst 1676Oxfordshire, England
30Fairebeard UnknownFurther investigations revealed no other evidence either so this record has been deleted from the tree and timeline but this table record is left in place as a reminder for the future.Fairbeard?1676Kingston Bagpuize, Berkshire, England
31FairbeardUnknownThe existence of this person is inferred from his children. There is no evidence to corroborate.

Further investigations revealed no other evidence either so this record has been deleted from the tree and timeline but this table record is left in place as a reminder for the future.
FairbeardMEst 1685Kingston Lisle, Berkshire, England
32FairbeardSarahSarah Fairbeard was baptised 6 Sept 1719 at Kingston Lisle, Berkshire.
She was the daughter of Richard and Sarah Fairbeard.
The only marriage to be found within the correct time frame is Richard to Sarah Stuart on 13 Feb 1695 at Westminster but the name is spelt 'Farbar' !
Sarah Fairbeard married John Lambard by licence on 30 Sept 1737 at Uffington.
No further information to be found.
FairbeardF1719Kingston Lisle, Berkshire, England
32FayrebeardUnknownThe existence of this person is inferred from his children. There is no evidence to corroborate.

Further investigations revealed no other evidence either so this record has been deleted from the tree and timeline but this table record is left in place as a reminder for the future.
FairbeardEst 1594Fyfield, Berkshire, England

Appendix III

This is the text of the email I received from John Evans

I live in Appleton, Oxfordshire

There were two yew trees in the front of our house, but despite Tree Preservation Orders they were cut down in c1985. They were probably planted c1800 by John SESSIONS. 

The first record of Ferbert SESSIONS is his birth in 1702. He died, in Appleton, in 1786. He married Jane ? sometime and had two children John and Ann. Ann died aged 2 but John lived from 1743 to 1831.

 In 1775 John SESSIONS extended his house and put a date stone on it to mark the occasion. This is Yew Tree Cottage.

 He had two children by his wife Mary. Both Mary and son John died early leaving John and his daughter Anne.

 This looked like the end of this SESSIONS line and the end of Ferbert. I have a vague recollection that the name Ferbert may have come from Cumnor an adjacent village.

 We are fairly sure that John SESSIONS was prosperous, He was the only owner-occupier in our village, in his time, and also owned some land apart from his house. I think his gravestone is the tallest in Appleton Churchyard.

 There is some erroneous information online about John SESSIONS related to Patrice SESSIONS and Sandra LEWIS. (But see Appendix II)

 Then a dramatic event occurred. A Paulin BARRETT arrived in town and married Anne SESSIONS – in Appleton.  Paulin and Anne were busy producing babies.

 At first the baptism was listed simply son/daughter of Paulin ; then it was Paulin Esq and finally Surgeon. He was away for eight years – in the Army – returning as a Surgeon.

Who Paulin BARRETT was and where he came from is a mystery.

 The Barrett family of Appleton flourished – the children went to University – became doctors and clergymen etc.

 It seems that grandfather John SESSIONS wanted his name to carry on. The first of Anne’s sons was named John SESSIONS-BARRETT.

 The last of his line was Charles William SESSIONS-BARRETT – a doctor who died in Hinckley in 1915; he lived in Appleton House! His obituary is online in The British Medical Journal.

 

Appendix IV

This is the text of the email received from Stephanie Argent, forwarding information received from her cousin. It starts by contradicting John

Your Barrett family is certainly related to  the Sandra Lewis connection.

Alberta’s father, Charles William (b about  1858) was the son of Charles Albert Barrett, born about 1832, also a doctor in Wallingford Berkshire.  Charles Albert married Maria Paulina Barrett in 1856 (born in Stratford-on-Avon) in Saintbury, Gloucester, in 1856. She was the daughter of William Barrett, a curate, born in Wallingford Berkshire. So obviously the happy couple were some sort of cousins..

Charles Albert was baptised in Kingston Bagpuize, Berkshire on October 29 1831, the son of John Sessions Barrett, presumably the J S Barrett born in 1797, and Elizabeth Ann (died 1834, aged 31, buried Kingston Bagpuize).

This John, also a surgeon, can be found  in Kingston Bagpuize in the 1841 census (the first census in UK)  with an Ann, aged 70, presumably his mother. He is a surgeon, no children are present.

1851 Charles Albert and Ferberd, brothers, both medical students, in Kingston with John.

1861 Ferberd, wife Jane and children living with John.  Ferberd and Jane Harrison married October 28 1857 at the church of St Magnus in London. There is a grandson called Norman, probably the one mentioned on the gravestone in Stratford. Also a Ferberd Barrett, 14, stable-boy !

Ferberd died in 1863, Jane 1870 (both buried in KB). Norman, as an orphan, became a pupil at Christ’s Hospital ( a charitable foundation, recognised as a  Public School) and later gained his Second Mate’s Certificate (about 1880).

        The plot thickens, as I find that  Norman married Laura Pauline Barrett  n°1 , Alberta’s aunt,  in 1909 – they were both about 50.
        She died in Stratford-on-Avon 22 November 1938, he in Weston-super-Mare (!) in March 1944, but buried in Stratford.  In 1911 they were living – independent means – in Cornwall. She left her estate (about £1000) to her husband Norman Barrett ‘of no occupation’, he left his  (about £800)with probate to a retired doctor.
        This Laura Pauline was an ‘artist-in-painting’, so described in the 1891 census .

 Laura Pauline Barrett n°2 (Alberta’s sister)  died in Stratford in 1933, her brother Thomas in 1941in Hampstead Hospital, London.

John Sessions Barrett  died in Wallingford Berkshire in 1874.  Wallingford, Appleton and Kingston Bagpuize (particularly the latter two) are very near one another and not far from Oxford.

John and Ferberd ( d 1863 ) were both buried in Kingston Bagpuize – I found them on the KB Gravestones site.

 Obviously, from the info given you by Sandra Lewis, the name Firberd (with various spellings and probably originally something like Fairbeard) goes back a long way. I must say I was amazed when I first came across your grandmother’s name ( as Evan’s wife). Now I’m satisfied!

 It’s funny that Paulin was a traditional name on this side of the family because  Maria Paulina was the name of Charles Albert’s wife – hence Laura Pauline (1860 – 1938) – Charles William’s sister and also his daughter, Alberta’s sister (1892 – 1933). Both died at Stratford on Avon.

 (In fact, it’s not so funny as both partners in the marriage were members of the same family).

This Post Has 13 Comments

  1. Sheila

    This is some amazing research. Still can’t help but think it was a surname that was then used as a first name somewhere along the line. I need to read it again to absorb it all and look at my list of Ferberd derivations to see if there are any more to add.

  2. SheilaWheatley

    Abingdon Parish records have: In 1566 there was an Elan Ferberd daughter of a Richard. In 1597 a Fearberd, 1600 a Fayerberd, 1603 a Fairbeard but the recorder has put Fereberd in brackets. There are other occasional references until about 1723 and then no more. Perhaps Ferberd is old English for Fairbeard?
    My curiosity has got the better of me, so went back to K.S.B. Keats-Rohan book of Domesday people. No Ferberd’s found. A couple of Fulbert’s and plenty of Herbert’s.
    Not to be out done then found a Hereberd Fossator an Englishmanand name occurs in Domesday Norwich. Now how close is that to some of the Ferberd derivitives!!!

    1. Paul Barrett

      OK! So can you see an image of the original or is it a transcription? After all, there are enough 19th Century occurrences of Herbert as a transcription error for Ferberd. Could there have been a similar issue in 1066, especially given that the records would have been in Norman or even Latin, so there’s a translation issue to consider as well?

  3. Sheila

    As far as I know, KSB Keats has translated the Latin and it’s a work that took her a long time to complete, so I don’t think there’s a translation issue the info in book covers 1066 to abt 1140.
    I think it’s interesting to consider that The name Hereberd could have been mis-spelt through the years

  4. Sheila

    Sorry, missed a bit. It is a transcription but original source is quoted and need to go back to the book to check that original source

  5. Sheila Wheatley

    One for John:
    Appleford
    Found in these parish records an Elnor (Elinor) PAWLINGE baptised in 1545.
    She married a Roger Browne in 1590.
    The reason I mention this is because it sounds like PAULIN.

  6. Sheila Wheatley

    Another one for John:
    Drayton St. Leonard
    1686 baptism of a Mary Paulin
    1569 marriage of John Paulinge (notice the similarity to Paulin & Pawlinge)
    1575 – 1703 various Pawlinge’s found

  7. Sheila Wheatley

    Paul and John
    .William Sessions married Frances Fairbeard on 24 May 1696 at North Hinksey, Berkshire.
    The Ancestry search couldn’t find this information so checked with Find My Past and the information came up straight away but stated that Frances’ surname was Fairbourn and the marriage date was 27 November 1696. Checking the Parish records again the date was given as 24 May with a query beside it, so that could mean it wasn’t easy to read for the transcriber. There was no other date given in the parish records that tied up with the same names.
    William was buried 26 December 1729 and Frances was buried 23 January 1734 both at Appleton.
    North Hinksey is situated in the northern part of the county of Berkshire and Appleton is about 4 miles west of that.
    William and Frances had one son and so far, there is no evidence of any other children. This son is: Ferbert Sessions.

    1. Paul Barrett

      Sheila
      According the family tree supplied by John, William does indeed marry a Frances but she is given as a “Wheeler” not “Fairbeard.” The Fairbeard link would be convenient in the tracing of the name so is it reliable? Was this all from Find My Past? The death date for Frances Fairbeard also matches Frances Wheeler, so it’s sounding like the same person. But why is there this name confusion? (I’m asking myself these questions as much as you by the way)

  8. Sheila

    The source was the Parish records of North Hinksey and the name was quite clear but obviously this has thrown up an issue. So, is Fairbeard her middle name, was she married before, is there a mistake in records. I could go on with more scenarios but I need to go back to Parish records and cross reference the Wheeler surname etc

  9. Kevin Petley

    My Great great grandfather was Robert Fairbeard Alexander Carr. There is straight up lineage to henry III

    1. Paul Barrett

      Hi Kevin,

      Thanks for contacting us. It’s great to hear that you have been able to find a link back to Henry III. Our roots are much more humble and our ancestors borrowed the name. We are still not sure where, along the line the name morphed from Fairbeard to Ferberd.

  10. David Carr

    The Fairbeard name was common as a middle name and firstname in my family and I have always assumed it was because of an ancestor Robert Fairbeard, of Gray’s Inn a well known barrister born about 1625. William Wycherley, who was a well known dramatist of the time, wrote a poem about Robert Fairbeard coming to town.
    Anther tenuous link is that I think Fairbeard Swinburn whose grandmother was Ann Fairbeard and was Robert Fairbead’s daughter?

    This Fairbeard naming tradition seems to have stopped in 1969 when Robert Fairbeard Alexander Carr (my Grand Father’s brother) died.

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