Surname Francewar

[Nick Carver]

Have found some late 1700s ancestors by the name of Francewar in Leeds area. The ONS surname frequency page tels me that there is currently nobody by that name in the UK. Googling shows a handful of people of that name in the US.

There could be a number of reasons why this is so. Firstly, the name was so rare that it has died out in the UK. Secondly, that people of that name have changed the spelling over the years to something that is more familiar and common.  I have tried but failed to think of any modern surnames that might have originally been Francewar and would like to invite the collective wisdom of Rootschatters to see if they can do better than myself (not difficult). To be fair, I have only found two daughters of the last known male Francewar - St Peter's Leeds FWIW.

[Paul E]

Hi Nick

Incredibly rare is not the word - only one instance showing up in the 1851 census - Elizabeth Francewar, born in London in 1850 and lodging in the household of a Henry family in Bungay, Suffolk.  Well, at least its a Censuswhack for 1851!

No others showing on any census indexes.

My immediate thought was that this is a corruption of Francois, and there are typically a dozen or so people with this surname showing on each census index.

I wonder if the obvious (subsequent) change of surname is to FRENCH?

Paul

[Nick Carver]

For the record, I have turned up Matilda Francewar (born about 1791) my 3xg grandmother and her sister Sarah (born about 1793) daughters of Julian Francewar - no info on his wife. IGI usually throws out some close matches for a surname, but not in this case. Paul - I like your reasoning, it would be nice to be able to prove a link.

[Wilkinsa01]

Hi
I think we may have the same relatives here , Wilkinson/Rawnsley and have also got stuck withMatilda Francewarr, just wondered if you found out where the name originated

[Taylor94]

Id say its very likely an anglicization of the French name 'Francois'

Julius Francewarr marries Elizabeth Wardman 1786 Leeds.

[chris_49]

I agree that it very likely comes from Francois, which is a surname in France and Belgium, perhaps transliterated Francewar by people who couldn't spell.

But although being Anglicised to French is possible, I wonder if the name disappeared because it was changed back to Francois by more literate descendants? After all, a recent thread showed some Chumleys being taken up-market to Cholmondeley, and I have relatives born Ragg who now prefer Wragg.

[trish1120]

Other children were;
Lewis Francewarr 12 Nov 1786
Frederick Francewarr 10/10/1789
Both Bapt Leeds

[CarolA3]

Also see:  https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=806138.

Carol