Ffrench

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Ffrench or ffrench is a relatively rare surname found in Ireland, a variant of the name French.

The name originated in France and was brought by the Normans, who landed in Bannow Bay, County Wexford, Ireland in 1169.

Having settled in South East Ireland, the Norman de Freynes moved and settled north and north-westwards across the island.

According to Surname DB the original name is of Early Medieval English and Norman origin. It is a topographical name for someone who lived near an Ash Tree or Ash Wood, being derived from the Old French "fraisne, fresne", Ash (Tree), from the Latin "Fraxinus", for the botanical species. It was introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066 by William the Conqueror. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names. In England, the development of the family name since 1156 (see below) includes: Thomas del Freisne (1206, Herefordshire), Peter de Frane (1228, London), Richard del Frene (1271, Staffordshire), Cristina Freen (1275, Worcestershire) and John del Freyn (1280, Somersetshire). The modern surname can be found as French, Frean, Frain, Frayn(e), Freen, Freyne, (De)Fraine and Defraine. Read more: https://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/De%20Freyne#ixzz6xsMyNClj

Variations[]

In some rarer cases, the name does not start with an initial capital, but with a lower-case f; the double F is derived from the blackletter F.[citation needed]

Part of the family branch is considered to be one of the "Tribes of Galway", having been there since the 13th Century.

Notable people named Ffrench or ffrench include:

They were also cousins of the French family, French Park Estate, Boyle, who were created Baron de Freyne.

Settlement in Ireland[]

The settlement of the family in Ireland dates from the period in and around the Norman Invasion, and, initially, emerged in Co. Wexford where the line of Frynshe of Ballintory, has left several descents in the Irish records. The family's founder in Ireland was Sir Humphrey De Ffreygne, said in different accounts, to have had several sons. His first son Patrick (a common family name in modern times) inherited his wealth and remained in Co. Wexford. His second son, not inheriting much, migrated to County Galway where the same scenario took place. The eldest son remained, and the other sons migrated to other parts of the island of Ireland, including counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo.

In County Wexford and County Dublin[]

During the 20th. and 21st. Centuries two branches of the family emerged from the Ffrenchs based in the Southeast and East regions of Ireland, one a prominent scion, in Co. Wexford and a second in Dublin city and county. In Wexford, Jim Ffrench head large household in Rosslare Strand, while his brother Patrick Joseph Ffrench (originally born in Rosslare) established an equally large household with his wife, Eileen Durning, that was initially resident in Russell Square (near Croke Parks, Dublin city), then onto Sandymount, D.4 and then Glasthule/Sandycove, finally settling in a late 19th. Century two-story over basement house at 5 Roby Place, Dún Laoghaire town, facing the old Dunleary rail line with views over the famous harbour. Patrick was a keen member of Conradh na Gaeilge (Gaelic League), active in the independence movement and was actively involved in the Irish Volunteers' Howth Gun-running incident of 26 July 1914. Later, having qualified as an accountant, he became Assistant City Treasurer in Dublin Corporation.

Patrick Joseph's first cousin was mother of George Harrison, of The Beatles. George visited his Dublin cousins on several occasions, during his boyhood years: Ffrench family albums include photos of George on Portmarnock Stand, north County Dublin, with his Drumcondra-based aunts and cousins. In latter years, Tony Ffrench R.I.P (formerly of The Irish Press newspaper and secretary of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement), developed a strong friendship with George's brother Harold, in the course of exploring and documenting the history of the Ffrench family in Co. Wexford and Co. Dublin. This consisted of comprehensive and in-depth research into the family's ancestral roots to mid-15th. Century Normans in Warwickshire, England, (c.1348 A.D).

Two of the Rosslare Ffrenchs entered religious life, while others became green grocers, pub owners and agricultural workers. Aidan Ffrench of Rosslare (R.I.P, March 2013) was a well known bon-vivant, locally-renowned musician (drummer, singer with local band), member of Wexford Male Voice Choir and campaigner for the conservation/protection of Rosslare Strand's eroding sea cliffs. Aidan worked with the former An Foras Talúntais for many years (now Teasgasc – the state agency for Agricultural Research) at its national headquarters in Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford.

Meanwhile the Dún Laoghaire ffrenchs – two boys and seven girls – married and settled in and around Dún Laoghaire, Monkstown and Sandyford, County Dublin, with several others moving to England and one to Canada, starting in the 1940s and onto the 1970s. They and their children continue to use the double lower-case version of the surname.

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