Ffytche Family Crests. Which Ffytche is your family?
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Ffytche
Fytche Family History and Crest Origins
Fytche or Ffytche or Fitch Family History Burkes Landed Gentry (1879 Edition) records that "the ancient family of ffytche, of Essex, which came originally from ffitche Castle in the North, and were the owners of Woodham Walter, Danbury Place, Little Canfield and other manors in essex. A member of the family (Sir William) was created a baronet by James II."
The Gentleman's Magazine (volume 64, part 2) records that "Sir Thomas ffytche, knight, was brought up in London, an architect; knighted by Charles II at Whitehall, Dec. 7th, 1679; he subscribed liberally to many charities after the fire of London, and was one of the first benefactors towards rebuilding of St Brides Church; and at his own cost and charge rebuilt the almshouses on St Peters Hill, as may be seen by the inscription over the door. In the following reign, viz. on 7th september 1688, he was created a baronet, an honour which he did not long survive as we find that he died on 20th of the same month." He was succeeded by his only son, Sir Comport Ffytch, by his wife Anne, daughter of Richard Comport of Eltham in Kent by his wife Anne, daughter of Sir Lumley Robinson Bart of Kentwell in Suffolk. Sir Comport was succeeded by his son William the 3rd and last Baronet (died 1736) and it is this William whom Burke may have confused with the first Baronet.
There were many branches of the family and the same edition of The Gentleman's magazine refers to a Dorsetshire Branch and Thomas Ffytch of High Hall.
Burkes Landed Gentry 1879 only records the Lincolnshire branch founded by Rev Stephen Ffytch at the start of the 19th century. The Rev Ffytch was rector of Louth and married the niece of the Bishop of Lincoln. His son acquired Thorpe Hall in Elkington, co Lincoln and his younger daughter married George Tennyson, Rector of Somersby, the father of the Poet Laureate, Alfred, Lord Tennyson. His eldest grandson, John Lewis Fytche (1816-1903), encountered financial difficulties and Thorpe Hall was sold in 1885. John Lewis Ffytche's younger brother Lt.Gen. Albert Ffytche, C.S.I., F.G.S., acquired Pyrgo Park, Eseex and was Chief Commissioner of British Burma 1866-71.
There have been many variations in the spelling of the name and Sir Thomas ffytche was vairously desribed in the Harleian Mss., in the Bodleian Library, as Fitz and Fitch. This latter spelling being largely adopted by the numerous American branches of the family.
The website www.fitchfamily.com has a list of books on the Fytches and should be the first port of call for those wishing to know more about the history of this family and the genealogy of the American branches.
The name is best known today as half of the clothing company "Abercrombie and Fitch" which was originally founded in 1892 in New York by David Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch as a sporting goods company.
Not only will spellings of the name have varied between branches and over time but different branches will have registered or adopted different arms. Whilst the armorial markings on the shield are often shared, the crests, which sit above the helmet on top of the shield will vary between the major branches of the family.
As will be seen from the two 19th century bookplates shown below.
SNBM