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However writing seven years after the publication of Patronymica
Britannica, in 1867, [Ref 3] Lower corrects
his earlier statement during a discussion of Lindfield Parish records. '
Fairehalle became through the intermediate Ferroll, our present well known
Verrall. In proof of this 'John Fayrehall of Beadles', 1622 is written ten
years later as 'John Verall of Beadles'. In the compilation of Patronymica
Britannica , after much guesswork, I deduced this almost exclusively Sussex
name from another source and I am glad of this opportunity of self correction'.
Unfortunately the first reference is still used by many present day 'genealogical
services' who have not realised that Lower within a few years had withdrawn
his original theory of the origin of the surname. In writing about Lindfield in 1870 [Ref 4]
Lower says 'the well known and respected Sussex family of Verrall seems
to have originated here and the name was formerly written Fairhall'. Certainly by the time Henry VIII instituted parish registers in
1538 there were numerous Verralls (and variants) in Lindfield and surrounding
parishes. Records before this date are rather more scarce. The first is
in the Subsidy Roll of 1332 [Ref 5]. This roll records
the names of contributors to the 'tax of a fifteenth' on moveables. Thom
atte Fayrehale of Lindfield paid a tax of one shilling. Similar rolls exist
for 1327 and 1296 but the name does not appear in them. It seems that Fayrehale
(i.e. fair dwelling) was a location in or near Lindfield but today there is
no trace of it. A few 15th century records provide some continuity. There is a
deed of 1411 [Ref 6] mentioning a grant by John Coffe
to Thomas Fayrehale of Cokefeld (Cuckfield) of 50 acres of land in Lyndfeld
(Lindfield). An early example of the interchangability of F and V and also
the lack of standardised spelling occurs in two title deeds of 1477 and 1482
[Refs 7 & 8]. They refer to the same people
who are first called Richard Veyreale and Dionisia his wife and five years
later as Richard Feyerall and Dionisia of the parish of Lynffeld. Sussex
coroners' records [Ref 9] mention a Richard Fayrehall
of Lindfield as a member of a jury in 1499 and several Fayrehalls of Lindfield
served on juries here during the next 100 years. The Sussex Subsidy Roll [Ref 10] of 1524 lists
a Richard Ferall in the Hundred of Strete assessed on 15 Pounds; in the Roll
of 1525 he is recorded as Richard Verrall. Another Richard Ferall, assessed
on 20 Pounds, in the same Hundred is recorded with the same spelling in both
years. Standardised spelling of English did not prevail until the late
18th century and up to this time there were over 30 variations in spelling
e.g. Fayrehall, Fairhall, Fairall, Ferrall, Virrol, Verrel, Verrall, Virrall
etc. Over the years Verrall became the commonest spelling although some branches
of the family have retained 'Fairhall'. 'Farhall' is a West Sussex variant. It appears that the Fayrehalls of Lindfield were quite wealthy yeomen
in the 16th and early 17th centuries as judged by various records such as
wills. The latter part of the 17th century saw their fortunes at a low ebb
and this, combined with the disruption of records during the civil war makes
it very difficult to trace definitive genealogies through the century. From
the early 18th century well documented family trees are again evident. The
most eminent branch of the family is that which had Richard Verrall, first
landlord of the White Hart, Lewes (from 1707) as its founder
[Ref 11]. Another successful branch in Lewes founded a brewery business
in Southover and later a member of this family became Lord of the Manor of
Southover, occupying the old manor house (now known as Anne of Cleeve's house)
in Southover High Street. The buildings of 'Verrall's Brewery' depicted in
an old photograph [Ref 12] still exist. Anne of Cleeve's
House was given to the Sussex Archaeological Society in 1925 by Frank Verrall. Many surnames also arise from convergent evolution. The Sussex
Subsidy Rolls of 1524-25 [Ref 13] mention Gylbert Verall,
'Frenshmen' in the Hundred of Loxfeld. There were two Loxfield Hundreds,
Loxfield Dorset (Framfield, Buxted, Uckfield and Isfield) and Loxfield Camden
(Lamberhurst, Wadhurst and Mayfield). Gylbert was taxed on the basis of
his annual earnings and was probably an immigrant iron worker. Thus a French
surname (possibly Feral [Ref 14]) was assimilated into
an already existing local name. Three other 'Frenshmen' are listed adjacent
to Gylbert: William Lovet, Peter Russell and Colen Lambert. All have recognisable
English surnames. The Verrall surname has also existed for many centuries in east
Kent. In 1538 Francis Verall married Elyzabe Gylbart at Sandwich. In 1592
a Frauncis Vyrroll was 'maior' of Sandwich and there are other references
to Verrall's holding the office of jurat. It would appear therefore that
the family was well established and respected in the town at this time although
their origin or any connection with the Verrall's of mid-Sussex is unclear.
It seems unlikely that they were recent immigrants from France. Some other speculative origins of the surname are worth mentioning
for completeness. Harrison [Ref 15] suggests a French
origin for Verrall. He also gives a rather involved derivation of 'Fairhall'
from Old English roots. Gates [Ref 16] states that
Fairhall is a Northumberland name derived form Fairhaugh. Knapp
[Ref 17] indicates that Furrell is found in Sussex, Surrey and Kent
but does not connect it with Verrall. It is interesting to note that John
Furril, married at West Dean on 20th September 1754 was recorded as John
Verrall in the Banns. Finally we must not confuse the Ferrall variant of Verrall with
the Irish Ferrell or Ferrall [Ref 18]. The above monograph was originally written for Sussex Family Historian
[Ref 19] but has since been expanded. References Reprinted by Bruce Fairhall and used with the consent of the author. |