Francis / Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Francis / Family History

Francis / Family History

The ancient origin of the name Francis was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Meaning 'le Fraunceys', the Frenchman, this is a locational name. Variants include Frances, Francies, Franses, Francois and Franey. This name became widespread after Saint Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226, whose baptismal name was actually Giovanni, but who was nicknamed Francisco because his Father was absent in France at the time of his birth. This name is of Anglo-Norman descent spreading to Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in these countries. Examples of such are an Adam Fraunceys, who was recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire in the year 1379 and a Richard de Fraunceys, who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', in the year 1273.

In Ireland this name and its variants were introduced into Ulster Province by settlers who arrived from England and Scotland, especially during the seventeenth century. During the 'Plantations of Ireland' in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries Ireland was colonized by the English Crown with this period marking the end of Gaelic supremacy in Ireland. This period brought an influx of settlers into the country but, unlike the earlier Anglo-Norman invasion of the twelfth century that resulted in a full integration into Irish society of the new arrivals, the same never occurred with the Ulster Planters who maintained their own distinct identity.

It can also be found in the form 'Proinseis' in County Galway.The Francis family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Francis descendants.