Farrah Fawcett was one of the most iconic actresses of the 1970s and 1980s, best known for her role as Jill Munroe in the TV series Charlie’s Angels. Percy Fawcett was a British explorer who vanished in the Amazon jungle in 1925 while searching for a lost city. But are they related by blood or by name?
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The Origin of the Fawcett Surname
The surname Fawcett is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word “fawe”, meaning “fallow” or “pale-colored”, and the suffix “-set”, meaning “a place where”. It is a locational name, meaning that it identifies someone who came from a place called Fawcett or something similar. There are several possible locations for the origin of the name, such as Fawcett in North Yorkshire, Fawcett Hill in Lancashire, or Facit in Lancashire.
The name Fawcett was first recorded in the 12th century, and has various spellings over time, such as Faucet, Faucitt, Fauset, Fausett, and Fossett. The name spread throughout England and Scotland, and later to Ireland and America. Some notable bearers of the name include William Fawcett (1728-1804), an English actor and theatre manager; Benjamin Fawcett (1808-1893), an English wood engraver and color printer; and Joseph Fawcett (1758-1804), an English poet and clergyman.
The Family Trees of Farrah and Percy
Farrah Fawcett was born on February 2, 1947, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to James William Fawcett and Pauline Alice Evans. She had one older sister, Diane Fawcett Walls (1938-2001). Her paternal grandparents were William Franklin Fawcett and Lena Belle Martin, both from Texas. Her paternal great-grandparents were James Franklin Fawcett and Mary Elizabeth Smith, both from Tennessee. Her paternal great-great-grandparents were John Wesley Fawcett and Nancy Jane McDaniel, both from North Carolina.
Percy Fawcett was born on August 18, 1867, in Torquay, Devon, England, to Edward Boyd Fawcett and Myra Elizabeth MacDougall. He had one older brother, Edward Douglas Fawcett (1866-1960), a mountaineer and author. His paternal grandparents were James William Fawcett and Caroline Frances Boyd, both from London. His paternal great-grandparents were James Fawcett and Mary Ann Harrison, both from Yorkshire. His paternal great-great-grandparents were John Fawcett and Elizabeth Bland, both from Yorkshire.
The Verdict: No Relation
Based on the available genealogical records, there is no evidence that Farrah Fawcett and Percy Fawcett were related by blood or by marriage. They shared a common surname that originated from different places in England, but they did not have any known ancestors in common. They also lived in different countries and continents for most of their lives.
Therefore, the rumor that Farrah Fawcett was related to Percy Fawcett is false. They were both famous for their achievements in their respective fields, but they were not family.
