Forsey

This interesting and unusual surname with variant spellings Fursey, Fussey and Fuzzey is of topographical origin. It is derived from the old English pre 7th Century "fyrs" meaning furse and "(ge)haeg" an enclosure; hence "dweller by the furze covered enclosure". The surname is first recorded in the early part of the 15th Century, (see below). John Fursey is registered in the Musters of Surrey (1583) and Roger Fursey is noted in the Protestation Returns for Devon (1642). Early recordings of the surname include Charlotte, daughter of John Forsey, who was christened on October 1630 at St. Margarets, Westminster, on November 23rd 1693, Edward Forsey married Hannah Aleward in St. Jame's, Dukes Place, London, and on December 22nd 1754, twin boys Thomas and John, sons of John and Jain Forsey, were christened at St. Margaret's, Lothbury, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Forshay, Dorset, which was dated 1431, "A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds", during the reign of King Henry V1, "The Founder of Eton", 1422 - 1461. 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.