Featherstone Society: Difference between revisions

''[[Societies|Societies]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Family Organizations|Family Organizations]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Featherstone_Society|Featherstone Society]]<br>'' == Society Logo Here == == Organization == The Featherstone Society was established in May 2002 buy a group of Featherstone descendants in England.<ref name="Featherstone Society Members">http://www.featherstone-society.com/members/index.htm</ref> &nbsp;Since that time, membership has expanded worldwide. &nbsp; Membership includes access to a private membership website, quarterly newsletter and research assistance. The society is actively involved in research for person who enjoyed the Featherstone surname or any of its variants.<ref name="Featherstone Society Research">http://www.featherstone-society.com/Indexes/index.htm</ref> The society is currently headed by W. Paul Featherston. &nbsp;Individuals wishing to join the society should [mailto:paul@featherstone.org contact him directly] or through the main society [http://www.featherstone-society.com website]. == Surname == The origin of the Featherstone surname extends back into early English history. &nbsp;Some say it originated with Helius (Elias) de Fetherstonhalgh in about 1202. &nbsp;Helius was influentlal landowner who created the symbol for his family with the image of a feather and a stone.<ref name="Featherstone Surname History">http://www.featherstone-society.com/Indexes/england/other/house-of-fh/house_of_fetherstonhaugh.htm</ref><ref name="Featherstone Manor">http://www.famhist.us/2011/05/02/featherstone-castle-of-northumbria/</ref> ==== Spelling Variations ==== The Featherstone surname is found with a number of spelling variations. They commonly include: Featherstone, Featherston, Fetherstone, Fetherston, Featherstonehaugh, Featherstonhaugh and Featherstonhaugh. &nbsp; Less frequent spellings include Fedderstan, de Fedderstanhalwe, de Fedderstanhalgh and many others.<ref name="Featherstone Society">http://featherstone-society.com/</ref> == Historical Family Home == The historical family home is commonly known today as the Featherstone Castle located a short distance south of the Scottish border in Northumberland. '''Castle Image''' Over the centuries it has served as a family manor, estate headquarters and it has even housed a school. &nbsp;Today, it is privately owned and is frequently visited by descendants flocking to their ancestral home. == Genealogical Research == Numberous research projects are underway by members of the society including records in England, Wales, Scotland, Australis, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland and the United States. &nbsp;Featherstone data found in the projects are listed on the [http://www.featherstone-society.com/Indexes/index.htm Collected Records] section of the primary Society website. Additionally, the society owns or affiliates with a number of Featherstone descendant sites that include much of the research data found in the Collected Records section of the society website *[http://featherstone.org/ Featherstone Genealogy] *[http://www.myheritage.com/FP/entry.php?s=279692&popup=2%2C6179741464#notificationPanelAnchor Featherstone Society on MyHeritage] *[http://featherstonesociety.tribalpages.com/ Featherstone Society on Tribal Pages] *[http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?includedb=kentfeather Featherstones in Southern England] *[http://www.familypursuit.com/ Irish&nbsp;Feathersone Records on Family Pursuit] *[http://www.one-name.org/profiles/featherstone.html Featherstone on Guild of One-Name Studies] Additional records are found on various member genealogy blogs and sites: *[http://www.famhist.us/page/2/?s=featherstone FamHist Blog] *[http://www.famhist.us/genealogy/search.php?mybool=AND&nr=50&tree=-x--all--x-&mylastname=featherstone&lnqualify=contains Lineagekeeper's Genealogy - Featherstone] == Projects == In addition to the Genealogical Research projects, the society is also involved in: *[http://featherstone-society.com/ The Featherstone DNA project] <br> == Resources == <references />