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ORIGINS OF THE NAME
So far, it seems that the Fogwell, Fogwill, Vogwell, Vogwill name originates from Devon England, though if anyone has evidence to the contrary, I would be pleased to include the information on this site. East and West Ogwell seem the most likely source, though there is also a place called Vogwell within the parish boundaries of Manaton (not on IGI). (See also the Dartmoor Press online magazine).
(One
researcher suggests that there were Fogwills at Buckfastleigh in
the late 16th/early 17thCentury, probably thrown out of the Low Countries
due to religious strife there. Wilhelmus married Eliza Gray Buckfastleigh 1609. Thomas Fogwill? was evidently important at
Buckfastleigh as he was signatory to a document about the 39
Articles of Religion signed by local dignitories in January 1642.
Other early references =
John FORWELL Berry Pomeroy in 1656, son of John and
Gartrud.
Johannes Fogwill Buckfastleigh in 1621.
Berry Pomeroy William FARGWELL baptism of his son,
Roger April 1666.)
Many thanks to J Fogwill of Plymouth for providing
this information
According to the Dictionary of English Place Names (A.D. Mills 1998) Oxford University Press – there are references to East and West Wogganwylle (Modern = East and West Ogwell) in 956, and Wogewille 1086 (Domesday Book) The name means ‘spring or stream of a man called Wocga – from the old English personal name + Wella
Interestingly enough, the earliest reference to a Vogwell on the IGI is from North Bovey, this is a parish which is adjoined to the parish of Manaton. Of course it is entirely possible that Vogwells and Fogwells were originally from two distinct families. To put a spanner in the works, my mother in law whilst in Devon, and seeing the name Vogwell over a door, knocked and asked about the name and was told that it was most definitely from the Isle of Man!! Who knows….. Some have also suggested a continental (German) (French) origin as well as a topographical origin ie Fog Well, Hog Well or Fog Vale. Whilst searching the PROCAT website, it also seems that there was a place called Fogwell in Middlesex going back to the reign of Henry VIII. There are also other place names which use Fogwell ie Fogwell Lane in Oxford City Centre.
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SOME BACKGROUND ON
GENERAL NAME ORIGINS
Based on current research on name developments it seems that originally only the wealthy needed to have fixed surnames. Gradually, during the middle ages, those who did not have land to pass on began to have a surname also, though the practice began more as a byname – one which the person would be known by, since there was no real need to have a fixed surname.
This might be based on an occupation – Smith (which is why there are so many of them today!), Fuller, Cooper, Baker, Challoner (blanket maker), Botwright (maker of boats), Capstick (old French for a woodcutter).
The name might also have a place origin, this is the category into which Fogwell probably fits in. Other examples would be – Rotherham, Whitchurch. A quarter of all surnames are probably derived from place names. The place may or may not be within the UK. Dench for example meaning from Denmark, Darcy, from Arcy in Normandy, Champney (from the Champagne district of France)
The name might also have an origin based on a feature of the person - Small, Argent (silvery hair), Daft (someone who in the middle ages was meek not stupid!), Merryweather, Goodchild. Though sometimes the nickname was the opposite of what it suggested!
It might have an origin based on the Christian name of the parent – Thompson, Johnson, McDonald, O’Reilly, Probart (from the Welsh ap Robert ie ~Son of Robert) being examples of the same. The use of ‘son’ was apparently more common in the North. In the South personal names tended to end with a ‘s’ – thus Harris (Harry’s), Peters and so forth.
The name could have also had a topographical origin – Wood, Green, Hill, Ford, Bridge, Marsh, Holt, Firth, Hirst, Shaw, Rowntree (by a Rowan Tree)
To confuse matters further any one person may have had an example of all of the above categories at some time in his life. Thus when a child, he may have been called -Richard Toms Son, when working – Richard Smith and also where he came from Richard Of Ogwell (Fogwell).
Names gradually became fixed, and thus the name patterns we have today. (1)
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DIFFERENT SPELLINGS OF THE FOGWELL
NAME
The name itself has many variants including the following found so far:
Fogwell Fogwall Fogwill Foguille Fougwell Fougwill Fougwall Foggwell ,Fagwell, Fagwill, Fogwele,Fugwell
Fogwyll. Fagswell, Faquell, Faulkwell, Falkwell, Frogwell Faulkwell, Figwell, Fargwell, Forwell.
Vogwell Vogwall Vogwill Voguille Vougwell Vougwill Vougwall Voggwell, Vugwell, Vugswell, Vogwelle, Vaquill
NOTE: When checking the
IGI, it is important to check different spellings as well as to consider
probable transcribers errors.
For example, I was able to find John
Fogwell with the following spelling variations
Ragwell, Frogwell, Pogwell, Laghwhell, Dowdgswell, Dougwill,
Bogwell – all were
christened or married within Devon - and that’s just for starters!!
There may or may not be a link between the above names and Foale, Foghill, Fogle, Fowell, Farwell, Varwell all of which sound similar. (For some interesting information, please go to the Foale Family Home Page
Explore your Family’s Past - The Reader’s Digest Paperback Edition 2001
ISBN 0-276-42647-9
David Hey - The Oxford Guide to Family History. Reissued 2002. Oxford University Press
ISBN 0-19-280313-1